OoP: What Snape is really doing out there...

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 66022

Rowena:

 
>    We must not forget that these 'injuries' are easily repaired by 
> Madame Pomfrey, this undoubtedly contributes to the casual way they 
> are treated by all at Hogwarts.
> 
   And I still say Hermione deserved a dose of her own medicine.
>   

Unless of course, you're Draco, and want to milk an injury in order to get a 
teacher sacked. Good for Snape that Hermione didn't pull the same stunt.

And it's not his job to decide who deserves what. That's the Headmaster's job, 
or McGonagall's, as head of house. And not only did he not have proof that 
Hermione broke in -- if he had, wouldn't he have gone to D-Dore or 
McGonagall? -- but he got his facts wrong. It was Harry who caused the 
injuries in class.


  
> > As for Snape not getting the credit he deserves, let us remember 
> that 
> > we don't know exactly what he did as a DE and what sins he's trying 
> > to wash away (if he truly is on the Order's side, which is still in 
> > doubt)
> 
>    Actually it's not. In addition to Dumbledore's trust Snape has 
> repeatedly put himself on the line to protect Harry whom he heartily 
> destests. I mean going into the Dark Forest alone to look for the 
> kid?! 
> 

Yes, it still is in doubt. Dumbledore's trust is not proof, and the way D-Dore's 
trust has been continually harped on makes me wonder if it's foreshadowing 
that D-Dore has put his trust in the wrong person.

Repeatedly put himself on the line? He sat on his ass in the stands and 
muttered a counter-curse, which only held off Harry's demise. Hermione did 
the rest. He might have tried to look out for the kid, but he wasn't risking 
himself to do so.

In CoS, I don't consider wandering the halls looking for Harry any risk to 
Snape, and in PoA, he may have thought he was helping Harry, but he didn't. 
He just got in the way.  Harry had to save Snape, who was still out cold, from 
the Dementors.

And I still say that his pettiness over Lupin contributed to the removal of 
someone Harry could trust (notwithstanding the ESE Lupin theory out there) 
and opened the door for Crouch!Moody to nearly kill Harry and incidentally, 
for V-Mort to return.

Didn't move to do anything in GoF and we have only his word that he went 
wandering around in the Dark Forest in OoP, looking for Harry.

So this "Snape has been trying to save Harry" is highly overrated and Harry, 
in my mind, should not twist himself into knots worrying about his obligations 
to Snape, who will be satisfied only when Harry "gets down on bended knee" 
(PoA)

>  so as long as we're talking about karmic retribution, I'd 
> > prefer to wait until we see Snape's debts and credits before 
> passing 
> > judgement on what credit he deserves.
> 
>     I don't doubt Snape did lots of evil things as a DE but he 
> changed sides and started working for the OotP before LV's first fall 
> and is now risking his life to put a final end to him. That should 
> count for quite a lot on the credit side. 

All the more reason Snape shouldn't be the one in charge of the karmic 
scales. And again, I'm not giving any credit until I find out what he's doing, and 
who he's really doing it for.

The fact is, we still don't know. We can make guesses, but we don't know.


>  
> > But his petty refusal to continue the Occlumency lessons,
> 
>    Petty refusal?? Harry's offence was not petty it was an appalling 
> violation of Snape's privacy and he has every right to be furious 
> with the boy.

Furious? Yes. But to refuse to do so, knowing that it risks the Order if V-Mort 
still has free reign in Harry's head? And it turns out, V-Mort's ability to play 
inside Harry's head can be linked to the death of a member of the Order.

But what does Snape care? He's a skilled Occumens. He can protect himself. 
In the end, maybe that's all he cares for.

And exactly WHY is Harry weaker after the lessons? Just because Ron hasn't 
been right about Snape yet, doesn't mean he is wrong this time.

Darrin
---  To paraphrase Snape: Snape is neither special nor important and it is not 
his job to decide who has what coming to him.