Snape and Harry WAS Re: Pensieves objectivity AND: Dumbledore's integrity

[melclaros]

No: HPFGUIDX 79708

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "bluesqueak" <pipdowns at e...> 
wrote:
\> 
> No, no, no, no. This is a classic example of the reader falling 
> under the spell of Harry's POV.
> 
> Ahem.
> 
> Read the scene in GoF Ch.28 again.
> 

 <snip scene> 

>>> And what does Harry remember this sequence as? 'If Snape hadn't 
held 
> me up, we might have got there in time.' [Ch. 29]
> 
> And that's what we, the reader, remember, because we're locked into 
> Harry's POV. Snape didn't delay Harry at all. Snape calling Harry 
> back (to find out what he was doing in front of Dumbledore's 
office) 
> probably saved a lot of time. Certainly a lot more than the 20 
> seconds he 'wasted'.


Mel gapes in shock:
You got me. A pre-eminent Snape apologist and *this* was the scene 
over which I was ready to slap Severus! I sincerely thank you for 
pointing out the error of my thinking!



to continue:

> 
> And there's all the little protective-of-students side comments, as 
> well. 'Crabbe,loosen your hold a little...' 'We'll be carrying 
> what's left of Finch-Fletchley to the Hospital Wing in a 
> matchbox' 'Snape gripped the back of a chair very hard' [when Ginny 
> has been kidnapped in CoS.]
> 
> But no. This is less important to Harry than the fact that Snape is 
> *nasty* to him. He gives him detentions. He makes *sarcastic 
> comments*. He marks him unfairly. He's *horrible* to him!
> 
> And it culminates in Sirius's death. If Harry had remembered that 
> Snape was an Order member, Snape could have contacted Sirius for 
> him, safely. Harry subconciously discounts Snape because 'he's 
nasty 
> to me. 


me:
YES! You know I almost woke up everyone in my house yelling GO TO 
SNAPE! at my copy of OoP and was *profoundly* shocked at the number 
of people I've spoken to--and posts I've read here and elsewhere by 
people who say they never considered that Harry should have gone to 
Snape. Snape was pointed out to be a member of the order from the get-
go. Not just any old member either, but apparently a bit of a star. 
Remember the excitement as Harry and his entourage arrived at 
Grimmaud when Molly announces "He's just arrived" and everyone goes 
rushing off to this important meeting? Remember the center of 
attention in the crush of excited order members in the hallway? HOW 
could so many people have discounted him?
I console myself by telling myself that that's the way HE wants it, 
he's safer that way.



pip:
> It is Snape who tries as much as he can to be adult about the 
> Occlumency lessons. It is Harry who behaves like the 15 year old he 
> is, shuffling his feet, doing as little as he can, and finally 
> breaking the rules so badly that Snape chucks him out. But Harry's 
> reaction to this is 'I don't care'. When he's asked to talk to 
Snape > and ask to be taken back, he doesn't.


Me:
Absolutely, and let us not forget the astonishingly high praise he 
gives Potter when he (potter) manages to break into his Snape's 
memories. "That certainly was an improvement" and "I don't remember 
telling you to use a shield charm...but there is no doubt it was 
effective..." This from SEVERUS SNAPE to HARRY POTTER?? And after 
what Potter had just witnessed? This is EXTRAORDINARY! Glory, Praise 
and honor indeed.


> 
> And when Sirius dies, he blames Snape for stopping the lessons ...

<snip>

> Harry's dislike of Snape has just killed the person he most loved. 
> But that's OK. 
> 
> You can bet it will be all Snape's fault [grin].

Me:
Everything is okay as long as the "greasy oddball" is around to take 
the blame. That's why the good lord *made* greasy oddballs.


Melpomene, seeing the gargoyle scene in a ray of golden sunshine--
despite the teasing--ok sadistic verbal abuse.