TBAY - Redemption

[lucky_kari]

No: HPFGUIDX 46532

George has just parked the car at the Scenic Viewpoint overlooking 
Theory Bay. In the distance, the lights of the beachfront town that 
has recently sprung up on the shores of the Bay were twinkling. 
Smoke signals were coming from the chimney of the Safe House. George 
tries to ease his arm about Eileen's shoulder. 

"So you see redemption is crucial to the Harry Potter books."

"What did you say, baby?" he asks, lazily running his hand through 
her hair.

"Honestly, George, have you been listening to a word I've said? I've 
been telling you... OUCH!"

"Sorry."

"My hair's tangly enough without you getting your fingers stuck in 
it," says Eileen, wriggling out of the arm he had about her back. 

George looks confused. Women weren't supposed to be immune to his 
charms. Well, there was Elkins, but except for that sad exception, 
he had always charmed the women of Theory Bay.

"You said you wanted me to teach you something about redemption," 
says Eileen testily.

"I was speaking figuratively," says George, sighing.

"You ought to be interested," says Eilen sharply. "You are a 
redemption theory, when you think about it."

George's face changes. All the charm and langour of Womanizer!George 
disappears, and George, the most brilliant of Snapetheories, sits 
upright and looks at Eileen seriously. 

"For the last few months, George, Cindy has been discrediting every 
theory I come up with by labelling it as a redemption theory. She 
told me the other day that I had a real thing for redemption 
theories, as if that was a bad thing to have."

"This from the woman whose every theory is calculated for relative 
banginess?" asks George. "She objects to using an ideology to filter 
one's theories?"

"Tell me about it," says Eileen. "She seems to have forgotten the 
genesis of the Big Bang theory. You see, our detractors have always 
said that we of the Big Bang are only planning bloody ambushes, 
earthshaking revelations, and massive plot twists because we like 
that sort of thing, that there is nothing in the text to suggest 
that Hagrid comes from a background of wholesale in-family slaughter 
(to take an example), but Cindy actually had a very good reason for 
the Big Bang theory, one that has been obscured by her later capers."

"There isn't much reasoning for the Big Bang theory..." begins 
George sniffily.

"Oh, George, you're biased! We all know that Big Bang was founded 
after Cindy said you were boring, and she wanted a Snapetheory that 
would give the books a big bang."

"And you've never sorted out your loyalties between me and the Big 
Bang theory," begins George accusingly.

"But George, I think I'm in good company there. I'm with JKR. Cindy 
justified the Big Bang theory by pointing out that JKR so far does 
seem to have a taste for Big Bangish scenes, not slow and steady 
revelations and transformations."

"Snape did not wake up one morning, and have a sudden crisis of 
nerves provoked by the very gruesome murder of one of the Old Gang," 
says George sternly. "If you start telling me that sort of thing, 
you can get out of the car and walk home."

"Don't be defensive, George darling," says Eileen. "I stand behind 
every word of the Sweet Georgian Credo. I believe that "Snape Went 
Evil Expecting To Gloat, Eyes Open, Recanted Gradually, Incensed At 
Nauseating Iniquities and Shocking Morals" but you have to admit 
that JKR has a definite taste for the Big Bang scenes!"

"I don't have to admit anything that doesn't directly concern 
Severus's Snape's Death Eater career," says George sulkily.

"Good!" says Eileen. "Then, let's talk about Redemption. I'm stuck 
on Redemption for the same reason that Cindy's stuck on Big Bangs. 
JKR seems to have a definite taste for it. And you're Exhibit #1, 
George. The redemption of Severus Snape."

"Yes, I suppose that is the case," says George, with a thin-lipped 
smile. "Snape does seem redeemed. Not in a Big Bang way of course, 
and if it's in any way comparable to the Road to Damascus, the 
emphasis is on following the Road not the apparition near the end of 
it. You do know that we've been disturbed by Rowling's remarks on 
the subject, though."

"About her being shocked at the question as to whether Snape had a 
redemption thing going on?"

"Yes, we've never been able to figure out," says George with a 
frown "whether she was referring to Snape being redeemed or Snape 
falling in love, or to the combination of the two. The last option 
of course would shock her, as it shocks me. Redemption through love 
is just a little worse than Hurt-Comfort, though a bit better than 
Comfort-Hurt." George winks roguishly at Eileen.

"Stop it," says Eileen. "What will the newbies think?"

"That aside, Snape seems to be living out a redemption narrative. 
But, of course, as the list's offical defender of reason and logic, 
I must warn you that Snape's redemption is not enough for you to 
insist that JKR is fixated on redemption."

"But there's Crouch."

"Ah, Crouch, of course," says George with a smile. "Crouch's final 
appearance is indeed presented as a redemption scene. Cindy says 
it's all a trick, I believe."

"Oh yes, she does, but it fits into the pattern I'm saying exists. 
If I can find enough instances of the pattern, she'll have to 
acknowledge it."

"Do you have any other instances?" asks George.

"Well... I was thinking that we could work something out with Avery."

"Eileen, as much as I like Avery, he doesn't really exist in the 
books. The man you know as Avery is HPFGU's creation, not JKR's. 
JKR's Avery is probably a pitiful toadie with no personality. So, 
you can't claim that he has a redemption narrative. Anyone else?"

"Peter Pettigrew."

"Not yet, Eileen, not yet."

"But it's going that way, isn't it?"

"A lot of people don't see it."

"Smeagol or Wormtongue. Either way he's bringing Voldemort down. And 
why do you think JKR expressed surprise at Snape being fingered as 
being in the process of being redeemed, and said we'd know why she 
was surprised by the seventh book? Because Snape really has already 
been redeemed. The seventh book will feature Pettigrew's redemption."

"Do you think Pettigrew is a Georgian?" asks George thoughtfully.

"Hmmm... I have my doubts. He might have a Big Bangish redemption. 
And he probably didn't have his eyes open joining the Death Eaters."

"Oh well," says George. "What next?"

"Dudley Dursley," says Eileen. "Cindy scoffs but what else can JKR 
mean, by talking about how she loves Dudley as well, considers him 
abused, and there's things coming with the Dursleys that people 
aren't expecting?"

"Anyone else?"

"I really don't know..." begins Eileen.

"How about Draco Malfoy?"

"Draco Malfoy will not be redeemed," says Eileen.

"People are going to kill you for that one," says George.

"Well, it's just that I don't think she can redeem Draco and Dudley, 
and I think it's obvious she's going for Dudley."

"That's your personal opinion. Do you have any more "evidence?"

"Not right now. I desperately need more canon."

"Well, if you're quite finished," says George, edging over on the 
bench. I'd like you to teach me a little something about redemption, 
in a figurative sort of way."

Eileen