Father figures or mentor or just plain teacher

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 38058

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "siriusgeologist" <lrcjestes at e...> 
wrote:
>>>> why do we need to squish Snape into a father 
 figure role at all?  That is obviously not his intent and not 
 anything Harry would welcome in the least.  I think this was my 
initial question.  Yes Snape may do Harry some good in his 
efforts to teach and train and make Harry cautious, etc.  But why 
oh why does  this have to be translated into some sort of either 
benevolent or  malevolent fatherly figure.
<<<<

Because Harry is so emotionally engaged with Snape. He's had 
other teachers he doesn't like, such as Trelawney and Lockhart, 
and there are other people he hates, but Harry doesn't imagine 
grinding their faces into pulp or putting the Cruciatus curse on 
them. Likewise, Snape has a conflicted relationship with Harry: 
there are other students he bullies, but he hasn't done anything 
to save *their* lives.

By Book 4, Harry's almost completely disengaged from Vernon 
emotionally, which proves that he *could* disengage from Snape 
if he wanted to. He doesn't.  That relationship is strong enough 
to have its effect on how Harry himself will behave as a parent. I 
can certainly imagine that Harry, should he become a father, 
might  find himself channeling Snape in moments of stress, 
much to his dismay. But Snape also provides a positive role 
model for fatherhood.

Others have  pointed out that so far Sirius and Lupin haven't had 
any real conflict with Harry. He's been willing to accept all their 
judgements, despite some mild resentment.  I wish, as a parent, 
that I were always so convincing and my children were so 
receptive.  But because children have the right to be kids, and 
refuse to see reason even when it is pointed out to them,  a 
parent sometimes has to thwart the child. To be an effective 
parent one  has to be willing to endure some bitterness and 
some shrill yells of "I hate you!" without giving in or giving up. 
Who's modeling that behavior? Snape.
 

Pippin