How should Harry deal with Snape?

[demetra1225]

No: HPFGUIDX 107967

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "mnaper2001" <mnaperrone at a...> 
wrote:
> I don't know.  Harry is the hero and I think he's on course to be 
> more emotionally mature and developed than Snape if for no other 
> reason than his name is on the book titles.  If the relationship 
> changes for the better, it will be because Harry changes his mind 
> about or his approach to Snape.  

Demetra:
I agree completely.  I think Harry is meant to become the better 
person.

There have been a lot of posts on this thread trying to answer the 
question what should Harry do, if anything, to change Snape and/or 
his behavior.  My short answer would be nothing.  Harry can't change 
Snape's behavior, only Snape can.  And I don't see him wanting to 
change himself.

  On the other hand, the title of this thread is 'How should Harry 
deal with Snape'.  My answer to that question would be Harry should 
stop reacting to Snape, for his own benefit, not for Snape's.  Harry 
can't control what Snape says or does, he can only control how he 
reacts to Snape.  Take away the reaction and take away the power 
Snape's words or actions have.  Free added benefit - it would 
frustrate the hell out of Snape.
This could be a first step to mastering his emotions.  Harry has 
always reacted to Snape's taunts at an emotional level, and 
understandably so since the taunts are very personal.  IMHO, Harry 
could greatly benefit from disconnecting his emotional reactions to 
Snape - sort of like Lupin seems to.  After all, it was LV's 
knowledge of Harry's emotional attachment to Sirius that allowed LV 
to manipulate Harry.  This is what I think Snape was referring to 
during Occlumency lessons when he told Harry that he was handing LV 
weapons (and I believe Snape knows this from personal experience).  

Demetra (who wishes she could follow her own advice in RL)