The REAL Reason Voldemort Didn't Kill Snape HIMSELF - Harry Potter Theory

Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to discuss how Voldemort went about killing Severus Snape. Snape’s death is a BIG topic in the Harry Potter story, and when he died it was a truly tragic moment in the series. That is unless of course you don’t like Snape.

As you progress through the books and films, your perception of Snape is constantly challenged- is he good? Bad? What are his intentions? And in the end, it turned out that Snape was almost more devoted to the cause than anyone.

Snape later dies in the Deathly Hallows, after Voldemort comes to the conclusion that he will need to kill Snape in order to become the true owner of the elder wand. However, we do also find out later on that Snape died in vain, as he was never the true owner of the elder wand after all - and was simply unnecessarily killed by Voldemort. However, what was always interesting about Voldemort killing Snape was that he didn’t do it himself-he used Nagini.

So we know that Snape ultimately dies at the hands, or mouth (rather) of Nagini on Voldemort’s orders. But what I found unusual about Snape’s death was the very significant ABSENCE of Avada Kedavra AKA the killing curse. Voldemort is a massive proponent of the killing curse, I mean.. he can’t get enough of it, and it’s very purpose is to kill. So, why wouldn’t he use Avada Kedavra on Snape? Instead, he uses Nagini to finish Snape off? Why?

I've got 2 reasons.

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[BjornV]

We all know why he couldn't use the killing curse for meta story reasons but in-universe, I always took it as Voldemort showing respect. Being murdered with the killing curse, that's the final fate of the commoner, of the enemy, of those you'd want to just get rid off. Never would he have a loyal servant as Snape suffer such indignified end. Dying by the killing curse, that's beneath Snape. No, if Voldemort had to kill his servant, it would be a way that was noble, special and unique. Like, being killed by a being so glorious it is the symbol of one of the most important wizards in magical history, Salazar Slytherin. Yes, Snape deserved a death, that would honor him, his master and their House, so being killed by a serpent commanded by Voldemort would be perfect.

[johnpowell]

Simply because JK needed Snape to be able to give his memories to Harry. Authors privilege.😂❤

[ViewerOnline]

It might go even deeper. Voldemort didn't think the wand would betray it's true master, and may have feared the curse rebounding on him and ending up as in that weakened state again; that was how he died (Harry used Expelliarmus while Voldemort used Avada Kedavra, but his spell rebounded because the wand wouldn't betray Harry, he was too proud not to use Avada Kedavra in front of everyone). As for why he used Nagini, a piece of his soul was inside her, so her killing Snape was kind of like "him" killing Snape.

[donaldfrederick]

Because if thought Snape was its master he was concerned any spell aimed at its master would rebound to protect him. Given previous experience with a spell rebounding on him he did not want this fate again.

[KingKoffin]

He respected Snape, and using avada kedavra takes anger and malice for the individual.

[ronaldshank]

"...it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course." - Ollivander... Grindelwald did not lie (in a manner of speaking) to Voldemort when he told him "I never had it.", because he didn't. Grindelwald had the wand in his possession, but he never possessed the wand because the wand never chose him. That is why Voldemort couldn't detect his lie because Grindelwald had told him the truth. Grindelwald never truly owned the wand and he now fully understands and knows that. That is why Grindelwald said, "But my death will not bring you what you seek... There is so much you do not understand...". Voldemort could never be the owner of the wand until he defeated Death. Death was the only true owner of the wand because Death gave the wand to oldest brother. The wand never chose him so Death was the only true owner of the wand. This is why Harry became the new, first true owner of the wand when he died in the forest, defeated Death and returned to the forest alive. This is why the Crutiotis Curse did not effect Harry as the wand would not hurt it's master. This is why Voldemort's killing curse would not hurt Harry and rebounded on Voldemort because Harry was the wands master...

[FirstnameLastname-rcyd]

So here is my book/film theory: No human is the master of the elder wand. Only Death is. I think that Death made a powerful wand, perhaps the most powerful, as it could mend other wands. But I think the buck stops there. I don’t think it has any allegiance to anyone but Death. I think that it was the pursuit of the power that caused it to have so many owners. I think that Death itself made it powerful in its own right but was its ultimate master. I think Death knew, as with the resurrection stone, that it would cause the death of the original owner and looked at the resulting legend which would claim even more people for himself as being a clever trick. This was why Death was ‘outsmarted’ when the cloak was taken from his own because he didn’t think that the third brother would be different from the first two. I’m patting myself on the back for this one…

[chriswhittington]

Carlin brothers did a theory on all 3 curses, based off some digging another theorist did. The peveral brothers created them. Just going to cliff note that but in essence the brother who made the elder wand made the killing curse which is considered "unblockable" because he wanted to win all his duels. The second brother made the torture curse, not as a means to torture someone but as an outlet for the emotional torture he was going through after creating the stone. The third brother who made the cloak just wanted to be left alone and made the imperious curse, this curse was described as being pleasant, as if experiencing ultimate bliss, while not being aware of what you were being asked to do.

It's a fascinating video.

[theafaith]

Outstanding video. It lends more weight to Voldemort's cold "I regret it" statement; gives him a faint flicker of humanity, however twisted. Definitely would like a video re: the book vs film versions of Severus's death.

[Swimmerchild]

The elder wand does not kill its owner, you either have to win it in a duel or kill the owner by some other means. All previous owners were beaten in a duel or killed by other means, stabbed in their sleep and such. The elder wand was used to try to kill Harry, the true owner of the wand, but rather killed the piece of Voldi that was inside of Harry.

[jimmolyneaux]

slight point here... you said "Snape died in vain". I don't think his death was in vain. By dying he convinced Voldemort he now had control of the wand which is what led to his defeat. In other words, his death was critical to Harry's victory.

[lionhearted]

One of my all time favorite YT channels of all time. So much detail and information given for those who are new or long fans of the Harry Potter series.

[OvnicentAparatus]

This is easily the best and most emotional part of the whole franchise!

[robertofalk]

on 4:31 you quote something, I assume it's the books, it says: "So even if you were disarmed while carrying it... it has developed an affinity with you that it won't give up easily", but that's exactly what happens when the wand switches from Dumbledore to Draco. I really like the movies and the books, but the way the ownership switches from Draco to Harry is ridiculous to me. Harry simply takes some random wands from Draco's hand, the elder wand was not even in the scene... It doesn't make sense.

[jiajianhou]

Imagine if he knew it belonged to Harry. The one wand he wanted belongs to the one person he literally can’t kill lol.

[nancyramsey]

As always, very nice video. I, also, think he did not personally kill Sbape out of respect for him (although your other points are also valid). Would love to see a book vs movie video. Thank you for spending so much time and effort in putting out these videos.

[therealfoxx]

I love your channel so much, thanks for all the Videos!

So much cool content about my favourite Franchise 🙏🏼

[andyneedham]

If Draco became the owner of the elder wand by disarming Dumbledore, why didn’t Voldemort just disarm Snape instead of kill?

[AWX_Wrestling]

There is a massive hole in Voldemort's thought process in thinking that Snape was the Elder Wand's true master. Voldemort himself saw through Gregorovich's memories how Grindelwald took possession of the Elder Wand. Grindelwald never killed Gregorovich he stole the wand from him.

I have to believe that Voldemort would have used Legilimency on everyone on the astronomy tower that night to see exactly what happened. Which means that when he probed Draco's mind he would have seen Draco disarm Dumbledore. One would think that Voldemort wouldn't take any chances and had someone kill Draco the moment he saw that Draco was still alive when they marched to the castle after Voldemort had thought he killed Harry.

Boy, that could have been a hell of a redemption for Lucius Malfoy...

Voldemort see Draco and orders one of the death eaters to give his/her wand to Lucius and orders Lucius to kill his own son. Lucius points the wand at Draco, his hand shaking badly. Lucius is unable to pull the trigger and instead turns the wand on Voldemort who quickly disarms Lucius and puts him in a full body binding curse and forces him to watch as he orders Greyback to kill Draco. Greyback stalks Draco with his teeth bared. Lucius struggles and breaks free of the body binding curse. Lucius tackles Greyback and tries to fight him bare handed but is no match for Greyback. Greyback mounts Lucius and mauls him badly Draco tries to get Greyback off his father but is knocked down. Greyback raises his fists about to deal the final blow to Lucius when a voice rings out AVADA KEDAVRA!! A jet of green light strikes Greyback in the back.

Grayback topples over dead and all eyes look to where the shout came from where Narcissa Malfoy is standing with the wand that was knocked out of Lucius' hand.

Narcissa looks at her son with tears in her eyes, knowing what is about to happen and says something similar to Lily Potter's last words to Harry when he was a baby. 'Draco, never forget that I love you so very much'. As she says the final word Voldemort screams, AVADA KEDAVRA and a jet of green light strikes Narcissa in the chest and she crumples to the ground dead right in front of Draco's eyes.

Fighting resumes between the death eaters and Hogwarts fighters. Draco drags his battered and beaten father out of harms way. He wants to join in the battle but he is wandless. He looks around for anything he can use as a weapon. Dracos' eyes fall on the tattered sorting hat. Draco picks the hat up and much to his surprise the glittering ruby encrusted hilt of the sword of Godric Gryffindor appears to him.. Not because he's a true Gryffindor but because "help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who deserve it".

Draco pulls the sword out of the sorting hat and charges at Voldemort who is dueling three opponents at once. Voldemort orders Nagini to kill Draco. The snake lunges at Draco who swings the sword slicing the snake's head off. Furious, Voldemort tries to kill Draco but a powerful shield charm springs up around him. Voldemort looks for the source of the charm and Harry pulls off the invisibility cloak and is standing next to Draco. The final battle between Harry and Voldemort commences and the rest is history.

In the aftermath Harry and Draco talk. Harry takes a guess as to why Draco was able to pull the sword of Gryffindor from the sorting hat by reciting what Dumbledore told him about help being given at Hogwarts to those who deserve it. Harry repairs his own wand with the Elder Wand and gives Draco's wand back to him. The two would go on to become friends and bond over having both lost their mothers to Voldemort's violence.

Lucius Malfoy survives his injuries but bears the scars. Mentally he would never fully recover and live out his life a shell of his former self.

[Bangdup_wr]

Actually, I think the answers even simpler if he had used the killing curse, Snape would not have been alive for Harry to talk to him after