More insight into Snape/Snape's challenge

[Melinda Leydon]

No: HPFGUIDX 68660

 
> I was re-reading the 'Occlumency' chapter when I certain scene
caught my eye. 
> One that I think gives us deeper insight into Snape than anything
else in the 
> book. 
> 
> "Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord!" said
Snape 
> savagely. "Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves,
who cannot control 
> their emotions, who wallow in sad memories and allow themselves to
be provoked 
> this easily-weak people, in other words-they stand no chance
against his 
> powers!..."  <snip>
> 
> "I am not weak," said Harry...<snip>
> 
> "Then prove it! Master yourself!" spat Snape...
> 
> (US ed. page 536)


ME:  This may be Snape referring to himself, but the thing that struck me
about this scene on my second (and third, and fourth, and fifth. . .)
re-read was that it appears to be wrong.  In the final battle, Voldemort was
unable to remain in Harry because of Harry's emotion.  It was his emotional
love for Sirius that made him too strong for Voldemort to possess.  I know
there has been talk about it being Harry's willingness to die, but I
disagree:

(US edition, pg. 816)
Blinded and dying, every part of him screaming for release, Harry felt the
creature use him again. . .
"If death is nothing, Dumbledore, kill the boy. . ."
Let the pain stop, thought Harry.  Let him kill us. . .End it, Dumbledore. .
.Death is nothing compared to this. . .

(This is not where Voldemort releases him, it's the next line)

And I'll see Sirius again. . .
And as Harry's heart filled with emotion, the creature's coils loosened, the
pain was gone.

It is Harry's emotion, his "wearing his heart on his sleeve" that makes
Voldemort let him go.  I believe, in the end, it's this emotion that will
save Harry and defeat Voldemort.

Melinda