“You alone know whether it will harm your soul to help an old man avoid pain and humiliation.” (DH Ch 33)
That’s exactly the point—whether an act is a “murder” or a “mercy” depends on the intent of the person performing the act. Murder splits the soul, mercy doesn’t. And only Snape alone knows which one he would do.
You’re right. I was thinking in terms of the difference between murder and attempted murder, when the important difference here is between murderous killing and non-murderous killing.
It still seems true that one’s soul will only split in the case of successful murder.
That’s exactly the point—whether an act is a “murder” or a “mercy” depends on the intent of the person performing the act. Murder splits the soul, mercy doesn’t. And only Snape alone knows which one he would do.
You’re right. I was thinking in terms of the difference between murder and attempted murder, when the important difference here is between murderous killing and non-murderous killing.
It still seems true that one’s soul will only split in the case of successful murder.