Snape's liability

[Mel]

No: HPFGUIDX 100610

AF <featheringstonehaugh at y...> wrote:
> 
> I suppose everything in life can be somehow linked to everything 
else if the connection is stretched enough, but I  don't accept the 
argument that discontinuation of the lessons was responsible in any 
way for Sirius' death. It was Harry's inability or unwillingness to 
cooperate and his hostility toward Snape that held him back. Harry 
had been told of the importance of the lessons; he knew it was in 
his own interest to master the art and that this was not being done 
for amusement and yet...   Sure Snape ended the lessons - but even 
if he hadn't, there's no indication that Harry would have cooperated 
any more than he already had. Without practice, his progress would 
have stalled, leaving him with that dangerous "little bit of 
knowledge" we all know about. Innate ability may have been there, 
but mastery required effort on Harry's part, and effort was 
something he just couldn't put forth.. Snape couldn't make Harry 
learn, he could only teach - the rest was up to Harry, who couldn't 
or
>  wouldn't accept what was offered.    



I'm new here and loving this discussion.  It's very interesting.  I 
thought I'd add my 2 cents. 

Personally, I think if you can't see Snape's discontinuation of 
lessons as responsible for Sirius' death, than you can't really see 
Harry's inability to master it (for whatever reason) as responsible 
either.  Snape is who he is and because of this even Dumbledore 
knows it was a mistake to have him teach Harry.  Harry is a fifteen 
year old boy that does thoughtless things sometimes.  Hardly news 
worthy.  Harry is also a pawn of the wizarding world.  He has no 
real obligation to do anything for the wizarding world.  Half of me 
would like to see him run away to America or something.  To me it's 
heroic that he stays.  A prophecy made by a quack is hardly reason 
to think Harry should suddenly metamorphosis into a perfect person 
out of "responsibility".  He's a kid (allbeit a fictional one).

I think trusting Snape is probably a mistake, but who knows?  He 
could be a great guy deep down.  The reason Sirius is dead is 
because there is a war going on.  In war, people die.  I think it's 
quite inappropriate to assign blame in such a situation to anything, 
but the war.  I'm sure there are people that were in real wars that 
could have made a better decision here or there and saved someone's 
life.  Is it right to go back 5 degrees from Kevin Bacon and then 
hate them for a bad decision they could not have known the outcome 
of?  

"Mel"