Quesiton for Snapeophiles and -phobes RE Dumbledore, Snape, and Harry

[dzeytoun]

No: HPFGUIDX 114561


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Shaun Hately" <drednort at a...> 
wrote:
> On 3 Oct 2004 at 8:00, dzeytoun wrote:
> 
> > But, I'm afraid in this context that is EXACTLY what it means.  
Since 
> > Dumbledore will not live up to his responsibilities and protect 
> > Harry, Harry must protect himself.  Any opposition to that in 
effect 
> > excuses Snape.
> 
> Sorry, but no, it doesn't.
> 
> Nothing excuses Snape. Nothing Harry does can excuse Snape. Nothing 
> Harry doesn't do can excuse Snape.
> 
> And advocating particular courses of action doesn't excuse Snape.

Yes it does, Shaun. I'm sorry, but it does.

> 
> You have a very clear idea of what you think Harry needs to do to 
> protect himself. Fine.
> 
> Other people have quite different ideas of what Harry needs to do 
> to proect himself. That's fine as well.
> 
> My view.
> 
> Harry is a child. Snape has the power in their relationship. That's 
> a reality. It's not utterly impossible that by defying Snape Harry 
> might gain something. But it's nowhere near a certainty.
> 
> I was abused as a child. Sometimes I fought it - but sometimes I 
> made a deliberate decision that fighting it wasn't worthwhile.

I understand.  I also had to deal with abuse.  I've NEVER had a 
situation where fighting it wasn't worthwhile. PERIOD.  Different 
lives, I suppose.
> 
> And when it came from a teacher, those were times that I decided it 
> wasn't worthwhile.
> 
> I'm not saying that's necessarily the right choice for Harry.
> 
> But it isn't necessarily the wrong choice either.
> 
> To me, the best answer to child abuse - is the one that leaves you 
> as a healthy, happy adult.
> 
> And what that is, depends on the circumstances.
> 
> Just because people would make different choices from the ones 
> you'd make, doesn't make them wrong choices - and it certainly 
> doesn't mean they support abuse, or excuse the abuser.
> 
> If I thought Snape would change by Harry defying him, I'd support 
> that defiance.

But Snape is quite incapable of change, Shaun.  I certainly agree 
with you there.  Harry defying him, or being respectful of him, or 
offering to have his first child, or whatever action he takes, isn't 
about Snape changing his basic attitude.
> 
> But - well, from what we know, Severus Snape is standing up to Lord 
> Voldemort.
> 
> I doubt he's going to be broken by a 15 year old childs defiance.

Broken?  Certainly not.  Frustrated to the point that he decides it 
isn't worth it?  Quite likely.

>