Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Deathly Hallows/Chapter 33
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Chapter 33 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: The Prince's Tale
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[edit] Synopsis
After witnessing Severus Snape's death, Harry hears Lord Voldemort's magically amplified voice, speaking to everyone at Hogwarts. He then speaks to Harry, giving him one hour to surrender and threatening to kill everyone if he fails to comply. Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to Hogwarts through the tunnel, and Ron and Hermione enter the Great Hall, where the defenders are regrouping and the many wounded and dead lie. Harry sees Fred, who died earlier, and discovers Lupin and Tonks among the casualties. Unable to bear the sight, Harry runs to the Headmaster's office, where all the portraits stand empty, and finds Dumbledore's Pensieve.
Harry pours Snape's memories into the Pensieve, and, hoping to briefly escape his own mind, enters the memories. He finds himself in a playground. A young, small boy, who Harry recognizes as Snape, is watching two girls, Lily and Petunia Evans, from behind a small bush. After Lily shows some strange tricks to her older sister, unaware she is performing magic, Snape emerges and informs Lily that she is a witch and derides Petunia as a Muggle. Insulted at being called a witch, Lily follows her indignant sister and goes away, leaving Snape bitterly disappointed. It is apparent he was planning this for a while and it all went wrong.
The scene dissolves and reforms into a new one. Snape is telling a curious Lily about Hogwarts and magic, including Azkaban and the Dementors. When Lily inquires about Snape's parents, he says that they are still arguing and that his father does not like anything much, revealing Snape's unhappy home life. When Petunia appears from behind a tree and insults Snape, a branch above breaks and falls on her. Accusing Snape of breaking the branch, Lily goes away, leaving him miserable and confused.
The scene reforms again into a different memory. Snape is standing on Platform Nine and Three Quarters next to a thin, sour looking woman who Harry recognizes as Snape's mother. Snape is staring at a family of four which happens to be Lily's family. Petunia and Lily are in a scuffle about Lily going away to Hogwarts. Petunia calls Lily a freak for being a witch, and Lily retorts that Petunia had not thought so when she wrote to the Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, asking for admission to the school. An embarrassed Petunia realizes that Lily and Snape had read her letter and insults them, and they leave on bad terms.
The scene reforms once more and Snape is hurrying along a Hogwarts Express corridor. He finds a compartment with Lily and two boys. He tries to speak with her but she is upset over her sister's hurtful words. Snape begins to say that she is only a Muggle but catches himself. He grandly announces they are setting off for Hogwarts and mentions that she had better be in Slytherin. One of the boys, the young James Potter, makes a scornful remark to his friend, Sirius Black that he would rather leave than be in Slytherin, and would prefer to be in Gryffindor. Sirius points out that all of his family have been in Slytherin. Snape gets into a little battle of words with both Sirius and James, until an indignant Lily asks Snape to follow her to different compartment.
And the scene dissolves again into the Great Hall at Hogwarts during the House sorting ceremony. Professor McGonagall calls Lily's name, and she is sorted into Gryffindor, much to Snape's dismay. Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and James Potter are also sorted into Gryffindor, joining Sirius Black. Finally, Snape is called and is sorted into Slytherin. He walks to the Slytherin table where he receives a pat on the back from a Prefect, Lucius Malfoy.
The scene changes to Lily and Snape walking across the courtyard, arguing. Snape wonders what has happened to their close friendship. Lily says they are still friends, even though she detests who Snape hangs out with, naming Avery and Mulciber specifically. Snape counters by reminding her of the trouble James and his friends get into and hints that Lupin is a werewolf. In the end, the fight is resolved when Snape is satisfied with Lily's criticism of James as an "arrogant toerag."
The scene switches for the sixth time and is the same memory Harry saw before when he peeked into Snape's Pensieve during their Occlumency lessons. Harry keeps his distance somewhat, not caring to witness this memory again. It ends when he hears the distant shout of "Mudblood" by Snape at Lily.
The scene changes to night time in front of the Gryffindor Tower. Snape is feeling very remorseful for calling Lily a Mudblood and had threatened to sleep outside the entrance had she not come to see him. Despite his deep, desperate apologies, the angry Lily is fed up with Snape and will not forgive him, and goes on to talk down to him for having friends with Death Eater ambitions. She leaves him and the scene dissolves.
The scene takes longer to reform and now becomes a hilltop in the darkness with a few leafless trees nearby. The adult Snape is panting and pacing on the spot and appears to be waiting for something. A blinding jet of white light flies through the air and Snape, disarmed, drops to his knees. Dumbledore stands before Snape and asks what message he has brought from Lord Voldemort. Snape replies with not a message, but a request from himself. He admits to Dumbledore he relayed everything he heard about the prophecy from Trelawney to Voldemort and that Voldemort believes the chosen child to be Lily's son. He reveals that Voldemort plans to hunt down and kill the entire family. Dumbledore is disgusted that Snape has asked Voldemort to spare only Lily's life without regard for her husband and son. Ashamed at being rebuked, Snape then pleads with Dumbledore to hide the entire family. Surprising Snape, Dumbledore asks him what he will give in return. After a long moment, Snape replies, "Anything."
The scene switches to Dumbledore's office. Snape, clearly grief-stricken, is slumped forward in a chair with a grim-looking Dumbledore standing over him. Snape asks Dumbledore why he failed to keep Lily and her family safe. Dumbledore replies that they put their faith in the wrong person, much as Snape had in trusting Voldemort to spare Lily's life. He also reveals to Snape that her son, Harry, survived. Snape states that he wishes he were dead with Lily, and Dumbledore tells him that if he truly loved Lily, he will help Dumbledore protect Harry when Voldemort returns. Snape reluctantly agrees. He makes Dumbledore give his word to never tell anyone that he is protecting James Potter's son, ever.
The scene shifts again and Snape is pacing up and down in front of Dumbledore, criticizing Harry and describing him as being like James. Dumbledore, however, replies that other teachers report him to be a likable and reasonably talented boy. Thumbing through his Transfiguration magazine, he asks Snape to keep an eye on Professor Quirrell.
With a whirl of color everything changes again and Snape and Dumbledore are now standing in the entrance hall as the Yule Ball is ending. Snape tells Dumbledore that Karkaroff's Mark is becoming darker as well and that he plans on fleeing if the Mark burns. When Dumbledore asks if Snape is tempted to do the same, Snape denies it and says he is not a coward. Dumbledore then remarks that he thinks students are Sorted too soon, leaving Snape shocked.
The scene dissolves for the twelfth time and reforms into the headmaster's office again. Dumbledore is semiconscious, his right hand blackened and dangling over the side of the desk. Snape is muttering incantations and pouring a golden liquid down Dumbledore's throat. When Dumbledore regains consciousness, Snape asks why Dumbledore even tried on the ring. Dumbledore says he was a fool. Marvolo Gaunt's ring lay on the desk, cracked, with the Sword of Gryffindor next to it. Snape says it is a miracle he got here and that the curse is extraordinary powerful. Snape believes Dumbledore may only have a year to live since all he can do is contain the curse, not stop it. Dumbledore replies that this makes things much easier to decide and begins discussing Voldemort's plan involving Draco Malfoy killing Dumbledore. Snape says it is only to punish the Malfoys and that Draco is expected to fail. Dumbledore correctly guesses that when Malfoy fails, Voldemort wants Snape to finish Dumbledore off, saying that Voldemort feels he will soon not need a spy at Hogwarts anymore, as it will be under his control. Dumbledore makes Snape promise to watch over the students in that event, and to be the one to kill him (Dumbledore). Snape questions this and Dumbledore says it would be helping an old man die. He would rather die on his own terms at the hands of Snape than foes like Death Eaters Bellatrix and Fenrir Greyback. Snape reluctantly agrees and the scene ends.
In the next scene, Snape and Dumbledore are strolling through the castle grounds at night. Snape asks what Dumbledore has been doing with Harry all these evenings alone, and Dumbledore replies that he has information he must give to Harry before it is too late. Snape challenges Dumbledore as to why he is not entrusted with the same information, to which Dumbledore replies that he does not like to keep all his secrets in one basket. They get into a row about Snape having to be a double agent on Dumbledore's orders and that Harry is no more trustworthy than Snape. Dumbledore begins to go on with his plan to Snape, however, Snape is angry that Dumbledore refuses to tell him what he has told Harry and threatens that he has changed his mind about killing Dumbledore. Dumbledore reminds him that he gave him his word and that he is also to keep an eye on Draco. Snape looks unsatisfied so Dumbledore invites him to his office that night.
The scene shifts to Dumbledore's office, and he is walking around Snape. Dumbledore tells Snape that Harry must not know what he has to do until the final moment, and that after Dumbledore's death, there will come a time when Voldemort fears for Nagini's life. He instructs Snape that, if there is ever a time when Voldemort refuses to let Nagini out of his sight and keeps her magically protected, Snape must tell Harry at that time. As Snape does not know what to tell Harry, Dumbledore says that Harry is a seventh Horcrux, inadvertently created by Voldemort, and that Harry must die in order for Voldemort to be killed. Snape feels tricked, upset that Dumbledore made him protect Lily's son only to have him die. Dumbledore asks if Snape has grown to care for Harry after all, but Snape spurns that possibility and casts his Patronus, a silver-white doe. Dumbledore, with tears in his eyes, asks Snape, "After all these years?", to which Snape says, "Always."
The scene switches to Snape talking to Dumbledore's portrait behind his desk. Dumbledore tells Snape that he must give Voldemort the correct date of Harry's departure if Voldemort is to trust Snape. Snape is also to suggest the Potter decoys using Polyjuice potion to Mundungus so that Harry is indeed safe.
The scene shifts to Snape face-to-face with Mundungus in a tavern. Snape is confunding him so that he will suggest the idea of multiple Potters, and forget that he had seen Snape or gotten the idea from him.
The scene shifts yet again, to Snape gliding on a broomstick at night. Up ahead are Lupin and George, disguised as Harry. Snape casts Sectumsempra at a Death Eater to prevent him from Cursing Lupin, but the spell misses and hits George instead.
The scene shifts again and Snape is in Sirius's old room. Tears flow down his face as he reads the old letter Lily sent to Sirius. He takes the second page with Lily's signature, and tears our her image from the picture of her and Harry with his broom, and leaves.
The scene shifts again and Snape is in the headmaster's office talking to the portrait of Phineas Nigellus. Phineas tells Snape that Hermione and Harry are in the Forest of Dean, and Dumbledore's portrait appears happy. Dumbledore tells Snape to plant the sword of Gryffindor there, and that he must not be seen. Snape coolly says he has a plan, removes the real sword from behind Dumbledore's portrait, and leaves the room.
Harry returns to himself, lying on the carpet in the same room he just saw Snape leaving.
[edit] Analysis
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Petunia Dursley says, "I heard – that awful boy – telling her about them – years ago." "Her" is of course Lily, her sister, and "them" refers to the Dementors, who Petunia has just identified as the guards of Azkaban. It is interesting to note that "that awful boy" was actually Severus Snape; knowing Petunia, we expected this to refer to James Potter.
Our viewing Snape's memories shows readers something else unexpected. Previously, Harry had seen the memory after the Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. test in a chapter called "Snape's Worst Memory". Considering the extreme humiliation Snape suffers at James Potter's hands, one would believe that sufficient reason for it being his "worst memory". However, knowing Snape's strong feelings for Lily, the memory acquires a different meaning: it is the worst because one word in it had ended his friendship with Lily Evans, and she would later marry James and give birth to Harry.
While the reason is never explicitly given, it is clear that when Dumbledore, watching the students return from the Yule Ball, remarks that perhaps the students are Sorted too soon, Snape is shocked at the thought that his true place at Hogwarts as a boy, and his entire later life, could have been different had the Sorting been delayed until he was more aware of his own desires.
The conversation between Snape and Dumbledore on the castle grounds, appearing as Snape's fourteenth memory, is one of which bits have been heard before. Apparently this discussion took place the previous year, just before Ron's rather disastrous birthday. It was partially overheard by Hagrid, who, with his usual inability to keep a secret, passed on the bits he overheard to Harry and Hermione.
The following conversation, in Dumbledore's office, contains one element which should be instantly clear but is never explained. Explaining the reason for his actions, Snape summons his Patronus, which proves to be a silver doe, the same silver doe we had seen earlier which led Harry to the Sword of Gryffindor in the Forest of Dean. Dumbledore, knowing that life circumstances can change the shape of a wizard's Patronus, immediately recognizes the connection to Lily Potter. We never find out what Lily's Patronus was, though as Harry's father, James, had such powerful associations with the stag, taking that Animagus form, it is possible that Lily's Patronus, following form, was a doe. This is not necessarily true, however; it is equally possible that, no matter what Lily's Patronus was, Snape perceived her as a doe, mated to the stag that was James, and his Patronus reflected that perception. Dumbledore's question, "After all these years?", is asking if Snape had been protecting Harry out of his love for Lily for all these years.
Snape's love for Lily never faded throughout the years, and, unknown to Harry, that love caused Snape to always protect him. Snape's seeming malice towards Harry actually resulted from Snape's lingering hate and resentment towards James Potter; Harry was merely an unfortunate reminder. As Snape was about to die, he asked to gaze into Harry's eyes, presumably because they looked just like Lily's, a fact Harry has been repeatedly reminded of.
It is interesting to note that the only thing Dumbledore required Snape to do was, when Voldemort started protecting Nagini, keeping her at his side, that he should then tell Harry about Voldemort's Horcrux that he carried within himself, and that he needed to die in order to destroy that soul fragment. There was no need, according to his promise to Dumbledore, for Snape to provide Harry with all these other memories. Could Snape have been attempting to justify his past actions, to exonerate himself to Harry?
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- How was Harry able to get into the Headmaster's office, which needs a password to enter?
- Based on what he has just learned, what might Harry do next?
[edit] Extra Study
- How will Harry, who distrusted and hated Snape, cope with the reality that Snape was loyal to Dumbledore and had protected Harry, always at great peril to himself?
- Is it possible that Lily could have ever felt more than friendship for Snape? Could she have felt more for Snape than for James?
- Why and how did Lily, who initially despised James Potter, fall in love with him?
- Why did Dumbledore call Harry's mother "Lily Evans" rather than "Lily Potter" when trying to convince Snape to switch sides? This is after Lily had married James Potter and shortly before Harry is born.
- Now that Harry knows the reason for Aunt Petunia's bitterness and resentment towards him, is it likely to change their relationship? Explain.
[edit] Greater Picture
It is interesting to note that of everyone around him, Dumbledore most often confided in Snape, whereas up until this chapter, Minerva McGonagall had always appeared to be his closest confidante. Before, Snape always seemed on the periphery and his true allegiance questionable. Now it is revealed that Dumbledore and Snape enjoyed a close relationship forged by a common quest. When others asked why he trusted Snape, Dumbledore always alluded to a nebulous event, but never elaborated. Now, not only do we see what he was referring to, Snape's unrequited love for Lily, but also why Dumbledore refused to identify it: Snape extracted that promise from him. Finally, we understand why Dumbledore trusted Snape implicitly, and vice versa, and our, and Harry's, faith in Dumbledore is reaffirmed.
