Chapter Discussions - Chapter One, Dudley Demented

[John Gabriel]

No: HPFGUIDX 68223

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "flower_fairy12" 
<flower_fairy12 at y...> wrote:

> > Is Harry rescuing Dudley a sign of Harry's inner goodness? Or 
> > does Harry care for his cousin more than he thinks he does?

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "bluesqueak" <pipdowns at e...> 
wrote:

> Even though Dudley is a bully, Harry is not likely to stand back  
> and let the dementors get to his cousin and as good as kill him.  
> But I still don't think he cares for Dudley either.

That sounds like it might be a pretty good description of Snape's 
attitude toward Harry. Maybe his attitude is no more complicated 
than that. Hates the parents, doesn't like the kid, but now that 
he's no longer a death eater he's not going to let anyone kill him 
on his watch. In other words, Snape acts to save Harry not because 
he secretly likes him, or thinks he's important to the cause, but 
simply out of self-pride; i.e., Snape considers himself one of the 
good guys now and good guys don't let other people kill kids, even 
the ones they dislike.

John Gabriel