Too "Good" Harry / The resolution of Snape

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 118435


Siriusly Snapey Susan wrote:
><snip>
> I still *can* see Harry gritting his teeth & working w/ Snape in the 
> future, though -- but we're just different there, Lupinlore.
> 
> Now, I'm going to see if I can't get you to go back upthread to my 
> other question from the post you referenced here. Rather than having 
> Harry be too "martyr-like" with Snape, you said you would more prefer 
> to have Snape die *or* have Snape change.  Do you have a vision for 
> how Snape might change in a believable way?  [And not just Lupinlore -
> - if *anyone* has ideas for this, I'd love to read them.  It's be 
> exciting to contemplate, as I can't think up much on this myself.]
> 
> 
Carol responds:
Whatever Snape does, I think it's necessary for *Harry* to stop
sweating the small stuff and concentrate on what's important:
controlling his emotions, learning his subjects, and preparing for the
upcoming battle with Voldemort. And Harry certainly needs to stop
blaming Snape for Sirius's death, considering that Snape himself
advised Sirius to stay home and wait for Dumbledore. It's not *his*
fault that LV planted the vision or that Sirius went to the DoM or
that Sirius was too busy baiting Bellatrix to recognize his own
danger. Yes, he stopped the Occlumency lessons, but they weren't
working anyway because Harry wanted his dream to continue. And that's
only one reason among many why Sirius died that night.

Snape could, however, resume the attempts he made in the Occlumency
lessons (before Harry's unfortunate venture into the Pensieve) to
control his anger and express approval when Harry (or Neville) does
something right. (Not that I expect Neville to take NEWT potions, but
you never know.) Snape could also start addressing Harry as "Mr.
Potter" (as McGonagall does) in exchange for "Sir" or "Professor
Snape." Small efforts at mutual respect, or the pretence of it, could
lead to the real thing at some point. Eventually they're going to have
to "recognize each other for what they really are," as DD says of
Snape and Sirius in GoF.

Snape may not be in a position to effect these changes in HBP, though.
He's going to be dealing with some very unhappy and resentful
Slytherins who (unfairly) blame Harry for their fathers' imprisonment
in Azkaban, and at least two of those Slytherins (Draco and Theo Nott)
are likely to be in NEWT Potions with Harry (assuming that Harry gets
in, and I think he will). (Actually, we don't know yet how Theo feels
about Harry, but that's a different topic.) It won't be in Snape's
best interest, or the Order's, to change his tactics quite yet, if
only because of Draco. We shall see.

Carol