Snape's redemption

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 33559

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "dicentra_spectabilis_alba" 



> So if Snape isn't as bad as he seems to be, why is he this bad 
at all?  It would seem that he has already been "redeemed" once 
by abandoning the Death Eaters, so there's no point in setting 
him up for a second redemption. For a redeemed character, he's 
still pretty rotten.  <<

Snape's redemption may be incomplete. It's said one isn't  really 
sure of  repentance until  the opportunity to commit the same sin 
presents itself again and is rejected. We also don't know 
whether Snape joined Dumbledore because he was genuinely 
sorry for what he'd done as a Death Eater, or because he wanted 
something for himself that Voldie couldn't give him. In that case 
also, Snape's redemption may have only begun. 

    I think Rowling outed Snape at the trials to set up a situation 
where   Voldemort will need to test his loyalty before letting him 
rejoin the DE's...perhaps by demanding that Snape betray a 
member of The Old Crowd such as Sirius or Lupin. By 
maintaining the image that Snape is pretty horrible, Rowling 
makes sure the reader will be in suspense  as to the outcome.  

Pippin