Re: Snape: evil or not evil?

On Sun, 21 Jan 2007 06:15:55 GMT, gjw <gjw@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


But the order is reversed. We are told of Snape's being saved by
James in the very first book, and there is no mention of any kind of
magic compulsion connected with it. Dumbledore does not say "Snape
tried to help you because he owed your father a magical debt," or
"Snape had no choice, a wizard under a magical debt is compelled to
repay it." Instead, he explains Snape's actions simply as a matter of
pride - wanting to get even with James so he wouldn't have the shame
of living with the fact that James rescued him. The whole idea of a
"magical debt" didn't arise until the end of book three, when Harry
saved Wormtail. And it has never been mentioned since for anyone
else.

Considering it's a magical world, it's a logical leap that a life debt
in the wizard world is a magical debt.
.