Snape and Lupin's Character Arcs (was: Lupin's Char Arc)

[Smythe, Boyd T {FLNA}]

No: HPFGUIDX 119155

Alla wrote:
>I am sure you know my position by now - I don't believe he is ESE as in
Voldemort's cervant,but I also don't believe that he is a good guy. Good
guys don't do to human beings half of his size what he does to Harry and
Neville, IMO.<
<

now boyd:

Howdy, Alla! Agreed that Snape isn't a nice guy, but I think we also both
agree that he seems to be on the same side as Harry in this war. Yet why not
damn DD, too? After all, his actions have been far worse for Harry than
Snape's mere words! (stuck him at the Dursleys, tells him almost nothing,
doesn't protect him much of the time, doesn't act like a father despite
being Harry's only father figure)


Alla wrote:
>There should be reparation of their relationship BEFORE any mentor-student
relationship could be established. And I will argue that A LOT of time will
pass before it happen, if it ever happens at all. I will argue closer to the
end of bookk 7, actually. So, No, I don't think that Snape will be in any
position to give mentoring to Harry and hopefully Dumbledore will not try to
force anything between them, allowing time, or I will officially label
Dumbledore as an idiot in my book. :o) <
<

now boyd:

Here is where we diverge. While we the readers may have strong emotional
outrage against how Snape treats Harry, the cold reality for Harry and Snape
(especially if DD dies) is that they will need each other to overthrow LV.
Snape has some know-how (I think), and Harry has whatever power "the Dark
Lord knows not." They need not be friends to work together; they only need
to trust each other. I see no sobbing breakdowns and apologies on Snape's
part, and I would think little of Jo if she did that. Also, Harry has been
fairly self-sufficient so far--why would he become so needy as to require an
apology from detestable (but trustworthy) Snape?

Alla wrote:
>Sorry, I don't mind Snape participating in harry's training eventually, but
I hope that he is not going to be his only mentor. Because I am one of those
sentimental types, who believe that Harry's mentor should eventually give
him some emotional support, besides preparing him for the battle with Voldy
and I think that Snape is in no position ot give Harry that, neither will
Harry accept that type of support from Snape. Lupin is in MUCH better
position to do that as someone whom Harry trusts and loves already.<

now boyd:

By mentor I mean senior partner. Not confidante. Not buddy. Not father.
Trainer? Yes. Imparter of knowledge? Yes. Protector? That, too.

If you want someone to give warm fuzzies to Harry, I'd look for
Ginny/Luna/Hermione/Ron/Tonks. Any of them would be better emotional
supporters, although he hasn't sought much of that yet....

And given that list of possible emotional supporters, who needs Lupin
anymore? Just seeing him become less distant isn't enough of a payoff to
keep him around, IMO. Something must come of Tonks the metamorph--else why
waste the words on her--and Luna seems to have jumped off the pages yet
remains a mystery, and there's Ginny's continuing development. Basically,
that crew all clearly has developing left to do, whereas I fear Remus to be
a character completed.

--boyd
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