Why did Snape kill Dumbledore? From the moment Severus Snape was introduced in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, he was viewed through Harry’s eyes as a villain. There were a lot of unknowns when it came to the Potions Professor, including why Snape killed Dumbledore. Read this post to find out why!
Why Did Snape Kill Dumbledore?
At the beginning of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Severus Snape is seen with two sisters, Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy. Narcissa is really scared for her son, Draco, who was given an impossible mission by the Dark Lord.
To prove himself, Draco has to kill Albus Dumbledore and let the Death Eaters enter Hogwarts. Snape promises to protect Draco and prevent him from doing something that would scar him for life.
They make a really strong promise called the Unbreakable Vow, which means they’ll die if they break it. Snape spends the whole school year following Draco to stop him from carrying out the Dark Lord’s mission.
When the final showdown comes, Snape keeps his promise and saves Draco from the emotional pain that would have come from killing someone. This makes Harry believe even more that Snape has been working against Dumbledore all along.
But there are things Harry doesn’t know. Dumbledore was already dying and he asked Snape to kill him when the time was right.
Why Was Dumbledore Dying?
Before his death, Dumbledore dedicated a lot of time to tracking down Horcruxes and uncovering Voldemort’s plans. He found out that one of Voldemort’s seven Horcruxes was hidden in Marvolo Gaunt’s ring.
Inside the ring was the Resurrection Stone, which tempted Dumbledore. He made a big mistake by wearing the ring, and as a result, Voldemort’s curse hurt him. The curse caused Dumbledore’s right hand to become black and lifeless.
Luckily, Snape found a way to temporarily slow down the curse using a mysterious “golden potion.” This bought Dumbledore about a year more to live than he would have had otherwise.
While discussing the inevitable outcome of the curse with Snape, Dumbledore also asks Snape to kill him at the right time. This was not only to protect Draco from permanent damage but also to prove Snape’s loyalty to Voldemort.
What Spell Did Snape Use to Kill Dumbledore?
In the Wizarding World, there are three curses that are considered really terrible: the Cruciatus Curse, the Imperius Curse, and the Killing Curse. When Snape killed Dumbledore, he used the Killing Curse, saying “Avada Kedavra.”
Even though it’s a terrible curse, Avada Kedavra actually caused Dumbledore to die quickly and without pain. So, in a way, Snape ended Dumbledore’s suffering like a magical form of euthanasia.
Unfortunately, during Voldemort’s first reign of terror, his followers, called Death Eaters, used all three of these curses. They would torture people with the Cruciatus Curse and then finish them off with the Killing Curse.
After Voldemort was defeated the first time, some Death Eaters claimed that they were forced to do evil things under the Imperius Curse, as if they had no control over their actions.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the reason why Snape killed Dumbledore was not out of betrayal or a desire to serve the Dark Lord, but rather as a fulfillment of Dumbledore’s own request.
Despite Snape’s actions leading Harry and others to believe he is an enemy, his ultimate loyalty to Dumbledore’s cause is revealed, as he reluctantly carries out the Headmaster’s wishes.
Snape’s complex and tragic role in the Harry Potter series highlights the depths of his commitment and the sacrifices he made in service of the greater good.