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

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 119505


> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Juli <jlnbtr at y...> 
wrote:
> <SNIP> 
> 
> But is it really cruel what he's done? He hasn't
> > really done much but to tell Harry the truth and try
> > to protect him.
> > 
> > Juli

Lupinlore:
> Well, he's also acted sadistically and arrogantly, publically 
humiliated Harry for no cause whatsoever, allowed his own 
childish  emotions to override the greater good, and generally 
acted like a  hysterical creep. <

Pippin:
One of the cosmic penalties for being a jerk is that people 
perceive you as worse than you really are. We saw that in PS/SS. 
But that too is an error (in the context of reality --I am not
referring to  misperceiving fictional characters ) and should carry 
a penalty.

I expect that Harry will come to think that Snape has betrayed the 
Order, and somehow betray Snape in return. Harry will then 
realize his error and rescue Snape, which will of course be a 
highly humiliating experience as far as Snape is concerned. The 
last thing he wants is to be saved by Potter *again.* 

Harry will agonize for a few chapters and then, despite his fears 
that Snape will do something dreadful to him, he will admit to 
Snape that it was his fault Snape needed rescuing. That will be 
what finally convinces Snape that Potter is not a second edition 
of his arrogant father, because neither James nor Harry ever 
acknowledged before that they were in the wrong. Snape will be 
furious, but Harry will eventually realize that he did not get in any 
more trouble for having admitted being in the wrong than he 
would have been if he hadn't. 

Having exchanged accurate information for once, Snape and 
Harry will be able to figure out what happened and identify the 
real traitor. Of course they will be wrong, setting up some more 
dramatic reversals. But I think it will be Snape who finally tells 
Harry what he has to do to destroy Voldemort, proving once and 
for all which side he is on.

Personally, I don't think Snape is going to die, just revert to his 
natural form. Maybe the four existing Houses will be 
consolidated into one, advancing the chivalry and courage of 
Gryffindor, the wisdom of Ravenclaw, the patience and charity of 
Hufflepuff and the Slytherin conviction that rules aren't everything.
But there will still be  houses at Hogwarts representing the 
magical races, and Snape can hang out in the dungeons as 
Head of Vampire House. <g>

Lupinlore:

> In terms of treating Harry like a hero -- well, Harry *is* a hero, 
 and has proved it on several occasions.  Being treated like one 
is  only appropriate.<

Pippin:

Snape has denigrated Harry's celebrity status only twice, IIRC. 
Once  during the first class when he was indeed only famous for 
being famous, and once when Harry  seemed to think that being 
Harry Potter meant  Sirius wouldn't dare attack him. It was not 
appropriate, IMO, to treat Harry like a hero at those times. 

Pippin