Harry learning from Snape (was: stopper death)

[dzeytoun]

No: HPFGUIDX 114655


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "M.Clifford" <Aisbelmon at h...> 
wrote:
> > 
> 
> Valky:
> Here is my view on how I expect the scenario will play out. 
> The abusive behaviour that Snape has indulged himself in throughout 
> his time teaching Harry will not be dismissed nor resolved.

I agree that this is probably the most likely scenario, as well.

>  
> The problem is not between Harry and Snape, and I am sure we all 
> realise this, the problem is within Snape. As most have pointed out 
> Harry can't *change* Snape by manner of his response or even non 
> response to Snape. The wisdom I believe that DD employs is that 
> Snape is his own undoing. It is Snape's choice to distance himself 
> from the reach of Harry for Harry has tried to reach out to him, 
and 
> therefore it is Snapes loss, not Harry's.
> 
> Snape has a redemptive pattern, so we always hope that in the end 
> his heart will spill open and he will find the peace that has 
eluded 
> him all his years. However, he has a lot in common with Sirius, he 
> projects his own inner torment at others and has a childish and 
> hypocritical manner of dealing with his pet hates. For this reason 
I 
> can see the possibility that Snape will share Sirius' fate. 

Interesting.  Snape and Sirius as mirrors of one another?  I think 
that may be very insightful.

> 
> Unless he holds tighter to that brief moment of humanity in 
> occlumency, and begins to allow himself to recieve Harrys' Love he 
> has thrown away his lifeline and his last true chance to redeem. 
> From there it's a downward spiral. Noone like Harry has ever 
reached 
> out to Snape before. Snape hates Harry's innocence and natural 
> beauty, because most people he has ever known in his life have 
> turned that raw power that beauty against him. Snape has learned to 
> hate what Harry represents, he can quietly respect people like DD & 
> MacGonagall for their wisdom, coming of age and experience as far 
as 
> he is concerned, the also have the beauty and raw power of Harry 
but 
> he can dismiss it with them. Not so with the boy who lived and 
looks 
> like his father.
> 
> I'm pretty sure Dzeytoun will not instantly agree with all of this, 
> and say that Harry need not be subject to this unfair treatment 
> anyway. Which I see as a perfectly good response. However, it is on 
> Snapes back to save himself, because he faces a worse fate by *his 
> own* doing than Harry does by Snapes doing against him. 

That may well be true in the grand narrative.


> Harry has true, good friends in Hermione and Ron, if in the next 
two 
> years Snape goes too far with Harry, they have done it before they 
> will do it again, half the darn classroom will stand up and jinx 
the 
> silly old bugger at once. *Harry* HAS *earned* this respect from 
> them and he has their protection and confidence. 
> 
> If Snape pushes the barrel too far with Harry he faces consequences 
> that he doesn't imagine. Harry is not alone and he is very powerful 
> he is already a leader and his following are brave and fierce. 
Snape 
> losing control of his classroom is the least of what could happen 
> but it demonstrates that it is up to Snape to put away the gauntlet 
> and accept Harry's open heart because it is *his* undoing if he 
> doesn't.

Hmm.  Very interesting.

> 
> In a lot of ways that doesn't compare to the cases of abuse that, 
> Dzeytoun, you are familiar with. But this *is* the story that we 
are 
> dealing with here and it shows that abusive people do damage to 
> themselves by their actions which is a very good message to bring 
> across. 

That is certainly a worthwile message, I agree.
> 
> The way Harry *has* dealt with Snape is the best way possible. He 
> has tried to go beyond the pettiness he has built himself *respect* 
> beyond the respect that Snape demands from him. Now Harry 
*commands* 
> respect just by being there, just by existing. Snape is privileged 
> to be witness to what Harry has done with his lot, including the 
lot 
> that Snape has dished him. It's not always possible in abusive 
cases 
> that the abused be so risen above the abuser. But in Harry's case 
it 
> has already happened so why do we quarrel?
> 
> Valky