Too late for apologies (was Re: Apologizing to Snape?)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 139153

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "colebiancardi" <muellem at b...> 
wrote:
<Major Snip>
> 
> colebiancardi:
> 
> And look where Snape is now - in the DE's lair with Voldy, having 
to 
> *kill* Dumbledore, a man whom I believe Snape respected and loved 
> very much(as a parental-like figure).  
> 
>  


And this, I think, is the rub.  Whatever you think about the source 
of Snape's actions on the tower, as far as Harry is concerned he's 
murdered Dumbledore.  That rather overwhelms most everything else.

I don't think Harry should have apologized to Snape.  It would have 
been a futile gesture that would have only made things worse -- 
knuckling under to a bully is never a good policy.  Nor do I think 
that was what JKR was trying to show, she never had Dumbledore or any 
other adult ever suggest that Harry apologize to Snape, or even thank 
him for saving his life -- indeed, DD sometimes seems to go out of 
his way to let Harry know that Snape's motives are not selfless.  
Besides, it would have been an insipid storyline, IMO.  However, all 
that is water under the bridge.  The time for apologies and taking 
the high road in that way, if it ever existed, is long past.

The question now MAY be whether Harry can forgive Snape.  And at this 
point, I think for a forgiveness storyline to work it means that 
Snape has to have done something to be forgiven for -- just laying 
out his side of the story and saying that "if you look at the 
evidence I have an arguable case" isn't going to cut it.  I don't 
think a forgiveness storyline, at this point, can be "We've both done 
things wrong, I apologize for mine whether you apologize for yours or 
not."  As I say, the time for reconciliation of that sort, if it was 
ever possible (and I, for one, don't think it ever was, as even Lupin 
acknowledges in a backhand way) has now come and gone.  Now the only 
kind of storyline that could effectively serve to illustrate 
forgiveness is one that is on a much higher, and if you will much 
more theological, plain.  It is one where Harry says, "You have 
genuinely sinned, Severus, and I will not pretend you have not or 
pretend that I can remove whatever objective guilt you bear.  I will, 
however, for my part, grant you forgiveness, as Dumbledore did."

Lupinlore