In situations like this, I truely wonder why Harry doesn't stoop to assination. I don't see the benefits of keeping either Dumbledore or Snape alive, vs arranging for an accident.
I have to wonder what lengths Dumbledore will go to protect Snape and the Slytherins. Is he going to do a little obliviation to stop the investigation? Some other means of control? I've been expecting him to go down hard, but he keeps withstanding everything. Hence my earlier question on why they don't just deal directly with the problem.
Author's response
- In an early draft of the plot, that's exactly what happened... a series of 'accidents'.
- Then I decided I decided that I was going to attempt a Harry story in which Harry doesn't kill anyone. Not even Tommy.