[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry in NEWT Potions Class? (Was: Is Snape confident?)

[Derek Hiemforth]

No: HPFGUIDX 87631

yolandacarroll wrote:
>True Harry hasn't tried to thank Snape, but quite 
>frankly I don't know how well it would go.

Derek:
I'm inclined to think it would go much better than might be expected.
If Harry were to approach Snape and tell him (sincerely) that he's
grateful for Snape's aid, that he was totally in the wrong to look at
Snape's memory in the Pensieve, that he feels terrible about having
done so, and that he thinks the way his father and godfather treated
Snape as youths was dreadful and something Harry would never do to
anyone, then I think it might have a definite impact on Snape.

It's easy to excuse the actions of James and Sirius because they were
young, but the trouble is, they (or at least Sirius) don't seem to
have ever outgrown it.  Do you think Sirius ever apologized to Severus
for bullying him in school?  Hardly likely.  He still calls him
"Snivellus"... a grown man sitting there engaging in schoolyard name-
calling.

If Snape mistreats Harry because he sees too much of James in him, I
can't think of anything Harry could do to change that impression more
than to to willingly approach Snape, thank him for his help, apologize
for his own actions, and express regret at his father's actions.  It
would be something that Snape would never expect from the son of James
Potter, and it might be the catalyst that finally gets Snape to stop
thinking of Harry solely in that light.

srbeers:
>To expand on this, I think the DA Club will continue as an officially
>recognised school club; a club with Snape as the faculty advisor and a
>club open to the whole school.

Derek:
I was just thinking about this yesterday.  I agree it will continue.
And I think it would be a perfect opportunity for Harry to mend fences
with Snape and improve their relationship.  If Harry went to Snape and
*asked* him to be faculty advisor (as opposed to Dumbledore assigning
Snape the job), I think that would show Snape that Harry has some
respect for him.  I suspect that's one of the things that bothers Snape
the most about Harry -- that Harry shows him no respect.  (Whether he's
really *earned* any respect is a different question...  ;-)

Yes, it's unfair for Harry to have to be the grown-up in the relationship.
But clearly, if fences are to be mended here, it's Harry that will have
to do the mending.  Snape is not mature enough to swallow his pride.  Is
Harry?

- Derek