Apologizing to Snape? (was: Harry's story, not Snape's)

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 139072

Alla:
>> IMO, JKR as I read her intentions , which could be wrong of course,
>> disagrees with you. If she wanted Harry to apologise, IMO she would
>> have wrote about it.

Lady Indigo:
>I disagree. Harry's thoughts and actions regarding Snape have 
>constantly been influenced by prejudice. This is important, and if 
>she's taking Harry in the direction I think she is then his 
>continuing lack of trust will be relevant in the seventh book, where 
>we've gone beyond apology and it's the abandoning of prejudice - by 
>both men - that will have the significance.

Ceridwen:
I always read it that Harry has difficulty with the niceties of life 
because of his upbringing, or lack thereof.  And, IMO, he'll fall all 
over himself for people who treat him well since he hasn't had that 
in his life before, and lash out against people who treat him meanly, 
like the Dursleys do.  I also think that, because Petunia probably 
neglected his social education, he might find the common politeness a 
bit daunting, especially when it's toward someone he doesn't like or 
who he thinks doesn't like him.  I think he's been stunted in this 
area.

I do think he's biased against Snape.  Again, because of the 
prejudice in his own House, and among his friends at first, and only 
then by the treatment he receives.  He's a novice in a world his more 
knowledgeable and new friends know.  He's following their lead, and 
it becomes his adopted nature.  Since he has the capacity to feel 
some sympathy for Tom Riddle and for Snape, he has the capacity to at 
least attempt to get over it and move on.

And, I agree that he will have to make the supreme effort to get over 
it, since the power he has is love.  You can't love unconditionally 
if you're filled with hate for some.  He'll need some good advice 
from someone he respects, IMO, to finally get the idea that it 
doesn't matter what Snape does, or how stunted Snape is, this is 
Harry, a completely different person, and for his own sake as well as 
for the sake of his mission, *he* has to be the one to rise above.  
Even if it doesn't seem fair.

Ceridwen.