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

[tbernhard2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 139095

lady.indigo wrote:

> But the point is that it was true, and Harry's acknowledgement of
this would have allowed for a more beneficial relationship with
someone who, while certainly not the nicest person, was for all Harry
knew a very useful and important resource prior to Book 6. Certainly
someone trusted in Dumbledore's eyes...

dan:
James' daily routine probably included any number of things Snape
would find irritating, just as Draco finds much of what Harry does,
like walking into the bookstore and being noticed by the psychopath
Lockhart, irritating. His relationship to Snape was probably like
Harry's with Draco - intermittent, and nasty. If Snape spent his time
inventing cruel dark curses, James pranced. And this, in terms of
Harry's behaviour to Snape, means what?

What is Harry supposed to do? Snape has not offered any knowledge to
Harry besides his classwork. If he is "helping" in the background, he
is doing like work-to-rule, under protest. Someone mentioned Snape was
"good" cause he got stretchers in POA. No, that only means he knows
how to get stretchers.

He hasn't acknowledged his responsibility in the demise of Harry's
parents, to Harry. Snape knew about the prophecy orb, cause he knew
about the prophecy and the DOM, obviously. I know someone on this list
will disagree, somehow... Nevertheless, Snape told Harry there was
nothing in the DOM that concerned him. What could be the point of
this? No one has answered this the two times I've asked previously on
HP4GU.

And Harry is supposed to offer to this hideous man with a DE history
and a personal culpability in Harry's orphan status some kind of
gesture of understanding, a man who has conveniently forgot to tell
Harry anything at all about his role in the death of Harry parents?
What gesture is being asked for here? What gesture would be appropriate?

I think Harry's response IS appropriate, and now that we know Snape
ratted to Voldemort about the prophecy, Harry knows it too, he now
understands why Snape has been the way he has.

lady.indigo wrote:
> The fact that Snape's use of Sectumsempra involves a single cut on
James's face when it's shown to be capable of much worse is very
telling, too, about  how little Snape either was able to or chose to
retaliate.

dan:
And this means what? I don't understand what you're saying here, about
Snape. He controlled the curse, otherwise the use of it would have
been noted and punished, if James' had been endangered. He'd have been
expelled, maybe. Certainly his deep connection with dark magic would
have been outed. So, he remains calculating even in his anger. But
what do you think that implies? You haven't stated what this point means.

lady.indigo wrote:
> Even if the memory doesn't symbolize all we can learn about Snape
being abused as a child for time and length's sake, Harry found refuge
at Hogwarts, where he was among friends, father/grandfather figures,
reknown and acclaim. Snape didn't have any of this. He was hurt by
others pretty much up to taking the Dark Mark and beyond.

dan:
Snape found refuge at Hogwarts too. As for your last statement, I
think it's important to note that the memory was Snape's worst. Not
the ratting that led to the death of Harry's parents, not joining the
DE, etc. What do you think this means? What in the scene makes it his
worst memory? If you are saying this kind of stuff went on all the
time, something about that scene must have been different.

The list generally thinks the part that makes it the worst has to do
with lily - or with the fact that his own curses are turned on him -
that he's been found out, in a manner of speaking. But what do you think?

dan