Snape Dumbledore
Monday, August 11th, 2008
Anybody who’s read the first four or five books of the Harry Potter series, or perhaps seen the movies, has probably asked themselves one fundamental question: Why does Dumbledore trust Snape so much?
The truth is, like all other things, finally revealed in the final book. Until then, though, it seems a mystery. Why does Dumbledore show such implicit trust for Snape? Snape, a man who’s a former death eater and who seems poised to betray his allies at every turn? Snape, who got Harry Potter eyed by the dark lord Voldemort in the first place? And why in god’s name would anybody trust Snape given that Snape actually kills Dumbledore?
In the end it actually boils down to Snape’s love of Harry’s mother that keeps him honest in Dumbledore’s eyes. The older wizard knows that Snape won’t Harry, and will indeed give his life to defend the boy, because of his love for Lily Potter. And as it turns out Dumbledore was already on his way out from a curse administered by Voldemort - in other words, Snape just eased his pain and helped progress Dumbledore’s plans.
Read the last book if you haven’t. You’ll learn there’s a lot more to Snape than meets the eye - not to mention the normally benevolent Dumbledore.