Dumbledore's comment

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 22675

>>Next, speaking of hypocrisy, Snape tells Dumbledore "Sirius 
>>showed himself capable of pre-meditated murder at the age of 
>>sixteen.  He nearly murdered me".  

> I've always thought this exchange was interesting because
> Dumbledore replies,"My memory is as good as it always was."  And 
> this shuts up Snape.  I think Dumbledore is reminding Snape of what

> is in his past, yet he trusts him.  I'd love to know if it is just 
> a general past as a DE or did he DO something he regretted (and 
> thus returned and confessed to Dumbledore).

Hmm, how about this?  Dumbledore is indeed reminding Snape about the
past - his past in particular - but the sting in the tail that we
don't see yet is that Snape did something to Dumbledore personally
and Dumbledore forgave him and gave him a second chance.  

And Dumbledore is pointedly inviting Snape to show the same attitude
toward Sirius ("Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us").  At the moment, Snape can't do it.  He hasn't
grown enough yet.  He's still not the man that Dumbledore was or is. 
But will he make it by the end of Book 7?

Increasingly I'm coming to the view that SNape represents a future
course of action for Harry to avoid: don't be bitter, don't be
vindictive or bullying, work to be the best you can be, not the very
worst.  It would be easy for Harry - with his family history, with
his status in the wizarding community - to lapse into self-pity,
hatred, complacency about his place in the world.  Dumbledore keeps
giving him the opportunities to test himself and grow.



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