It's possible that the potion made Dumbledore fear death, and the "Severus, please!" was actually a plea for his life, something the un-potion-influenced Dumbledore would never do.

Ah, yes. *nods* I guess I can see this.

Somehow I've got so firmly into the habit of thinking that of course Snape and Dumbledore plotted the whole thing out in advance, I forget that there are other possibilities out there. *laughs* Thanks for pointing that out -- it really should have occurred to me with this subject!

Horrible memories . . . mm, intriguing. Somehow that scene reminded me of Dementor-effects -- I guessed that Dumbledore was reliving his own worst memories, or perhaps his worst nightmares. (Nightmares! There's another idea . . . ) If they were someone else's though . . . I could see that, too.

Thanks for commenting -- I love reading other thoughts!