How should Harry deal with Snape? (was: Why Snape doesn't have to be human)

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 107770

Dzeytoun writes:

> In order to reach an accomodation with Snape, Harry must not only 
> deal with all the previous water under the bridge, he must forgive 
> Snape for what he sees as Snape's complicity in Sirius' death.  I 
> don't subscribe to the theory that this is simply an outlet for his 
> own guilt.  Certainly there is a large amount of that going on, but 
> that is not the only factor.  Harry honestly believes that Snape had 
> a hand in Sirius' death because of Snape's behavior during Occlumency 
> lessons and his goading of Sirius at Grimmauld Place.  Whether he is 
> correct or not is beside the point at the moment, and very difficult 
> to determine because a case CAN be made against Snape.  Not enough of 
> a case, perhaps, to win conviction in a court of law, but certainly 
> enough to have seminary students arguing a pretty interesting case of 
> conscience.
> 

Julie says:
If a case could be made against Snape, and even better one could be
made against Dumbledore, though I don't think a case can be made 
against anyone. It wasn't anyone's fault that Sirius died, despite the
complicity of several people, including Harry. 
 
And I don't think that Harry needs to forgive Snape for Sirius's death.
(Or Dumbledore, for not revealing pertinent information, or Sirius for
taunting Bellatrix). Maybe he needs to forgive *everyone*, including
himself for falling for the false dream/not listening to Hermoine. But,
most of all, he needs to get past his emotional pain, and see the
Sirius' death for exactly what is was--an unfortunate event no one
could have predicted--and realize the only one truly to blame was
the one who actually killed him, Bellatrix. 

I also think the disastrous outcome of the Occulmens lesson was in
large part Harry's own fault. Whatever Snape's faults (and they are many),
there was still NO excuse for Harry to delve into Snape's memories. 
Emotional motivations, certainly, but no excuse to act on them. And
Harry needs to realize that, maybe even atone for it. Not for Snape's 
sake, or to let Snape off the hook for his behaviour, but for Harry's own 
sake. Harry accepting his part of the blame for their sorry relationship 
does NOT absolve Snape (nor change the the fact that Snape started it 
and shoulders more of the blame). But it does allow Harry to free himself 
from an increasingly destructive interaction and move on. In a word, it
allows Harry to mature (as Snape never has, and perhaps never will).

And that is why we're all reading the books, isn't it? To watch Harry
grow up, achieve his goals, justify the sacrifice his parents made for
him, and in the process become the best man (wizard) he can be. He
can't do that without resolving the acrimony with Snape.  

Dzeytoun writes:
All together, I think it is going to take a major event to make for 
an opening between these two.  First of all, it will take large 
revelations concerning the history between Snape and the Marauders, 
as well as revelations about why Dumbledore trusts Snape.  Secondly, 
it will take a personal development on Harry's part which will 
probably not entail him coming to respect Snape, but which will 
likely render Snape a minor factor in his overall view of the world.

Julie says:
I agree that a major event will probably provide the opening for Harry
and Snape to resolve their mutual antagonism. I do hope that Harry
comes to respect Snape for the part he's played in defeating Voldemort
(assuming this end) at great personal risk. Harry can respect that part
of Snape, and Snape's sacrifice--whatever that will eventually entail--
while still not liking him as a person. I believe that is how Lupin and 
perhaps both McGonagall and Dumbledore are able to coexist with 
Snape fairly easily.

Julie 


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