Thanking Snape? (WAS Where was Snape?)

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 36585

Amanda, B.S., wrote:
 
<[Snape's] effort to protect the children is genuine.

<snip>

> Snape tries to save the kids, they knock him out, and not only do 
>they
> never appreciate what he did, they never apologize for their 
>attack. Little
> self-centered brats.
 
I have a feeling I'm going to have my head handed to me here for 
taking on a certified Snape-ologist, but here goes.  Harry should 
thank Snape for saving him in the Shrieking Shack or owes Snape an 
apology for knocking Snape out?  

Let's check the Apology Meter and see who owes whom an apology or a 
thank you.  Snape burst into the Shrieking Shack, having appropriated 
Harry's invisibility cloak to eavesdrop.  Then Snape ties up Lupin, 
threatens to kill Black, threatens to let the dementors kiss Snape 
and Lupin, and then threatens Harry.  

After all of this, Harry disarms Snape.  That's it.  Harry didn't 
perform a levitating charm and drop Snape on his greasy head.  Harry 
did not intentionally knock Snape out; that bit was unintentional 
(albeit convenient).  Indeed, it was the Trio who suggested that 
Snape not be left to rot in the Shrieking Shack.  Nope, I'm not 
getting a reading on the Apology Meter.  Harry does not owe Snape an 
apology or even a thank you.  Everything that happened to Snape in 
the Shrieking Shack was entirely Snape's fault.

In fact, the Apology Meter needle has swung around and is pointing 
directly at Snape.  Snape's foolish conduct caused Black to be within 
moments of having his soul sucked out and contributed to Pettigrew's 
escape.  Bottom line:  Snape's beliefs about what was going on may 
have been deeply held, but they were still deeply wrong.

And I'm still not buying the idea that Snape was motivated to rescue 
the Trio.  What's the first thing Snape would say upon entering the 
Shrieking Shack if he were genuinely interested in the well-being of 
the Trio?  "Are you all right?" Snape would ask.  Yet he never asks 
this question, although Ron is lying on the floor with a broken leg.  
No, Snape is too busy crowing:  "Two more for Azkaban 
tonight."  "Very useful, Potter, I thank you."  "Vengeance is very 
sweet."  Snape needs to review the Evil Overlord Handbook, if you ask 
me.

The bottom line is that Snape left his office with one important 
piece of information -- that Lupin was headed toward the Shrieking 
Shack.  He didn't know about Black or the Trio at that point.  The 
desire to catch Lupin was the sole catalyst for Snape's actions.  The 
presence of the Trio (which Snape did not suspect until he arrived at 
the Willow or confirm until he arrived at the Shack) did not cause 
Snape to change his conduct at all, IMHO.  So no, I don't think 
Snape's motives were honorable.  He wanted to get Lupin fired, and 
that is the only reason he ventured out that night.

I'll tell you what.  If someone should be credited with having 
genuine concern for the Trio, it should be Lupin.  Lupin did know 
that the Trio was in the company of a convicted murder and a dead 
man.  He raced to the scene knowing that he was cutting the timing on 
his transformation fine indeed <nods to Mahoney as she borrows the 
brilliant Bewitching Hour Theory> and disarms everyone so he can sort 
things out.  Despite the shocking events unfolding, Lupin does 
express concern for Ron:  "Lupin made toward [Ron], looking 
concerned . . . "  If the Trio should thank anyone, it is Lupin, not 
Snape.

Cindy (not disputing that Harry should have thanked Snape for keeping 
Harry on his broom)