Two scenes for most everyone (was Re: Retribution for Snape the Teacher)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 144031

Miles wrote:
> And your opinion is, that apart from this (dead, doomed, or both) 
> he should be punished for his deeds in potion classes? This
> is kind of kicking someone who is on the ground already or 
> whipping a corpse, isn't it?
> 
> I understand your idea of confrontation, and I agree that it can 
> do good under certain circumstances. (Your example of Churches in 
> New England sounds awful to me, but to discuss this would be too 
> much off-topic.) But IMO those circumstances will not arise from 
> the situation we can expect in the last book.  Just recall the 
> starting position - there is a lethal threat to the WW, and Harry 
> is on his way to 'finish' the most powerful wizard of the world 
> (or at least of Britain...). We can be sure, that there are people 
> to die and suffer. And you really expect, that in such a situation 
> Snape, Harry, Neville and some arbitrator will sit down, confront 
> Snape with his faults and make him apologise? And *this* is to be 
> good literature, and if Rowling fails in doing this, the entire 
> series has decisive weaknesses concerning it's literary worth?


Absolutely and completely.  To allow Snape to go unpunished for his 
child abuse (and it IS child abuse) would be reprehensible beyond 
belief.  However, I don't think it's necessarily true that this 
cannot be done in a manner that does not satisfy most everyone on all sides without taking an undue amount of time.  I offer two scenes that would do the trick.

SCENE ONE

(Snape has returned to the Order and claimed to be DDM.  He offers a 
plausible tale, but does not reveal DD's reason for trusting him to 
start with.  Harry refuses to believe him.  In this scene #### stands for someone other than Harry speaking for the Order, it could be Lupin, Moody, Minerva, or whoever).

SNAPE:  Precious Potter doesn't believe me, does he?
####:  Surely you don't think he should, Severus.
SNAPE:  I have explained...
####:  You have spent seven years being vicious, cruel, childish and 
brutal.  How do you expect anyone to react?
SNAPE:  If you are talking about me trying to teach that arrogant...
####:  I am.  You have behaved in a manner that brings all wizards to shame, not to mention all teachers.
SNAPE:  Dumbledore...
####:  Is gone.  Whatever his reasons for putting up with you, they 
don't matter now.
SNAPE:  Dumbledore trusted me enough to teach the arrogant brat 
Occlumency!
####:  And look how that came out.  You let your childish grudge 
interfere with one of the most important tasks you had ever been 
given!
SNAPE:  Dumbledore trusted me!
####:  So he always said when any of us complained about you.  Reveal his reasons, and we will consider them.
(Snape reveals Dumbledore's reasons.  #### takes him into another 
room, where shouting can be heard.  They return.)
SNAPE (looking like he's taken poison):  Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom, 
I... if.... uh.... please... accept my .... (looks sick) apologies.

SCENE TWO:

(Snape is DDM.  Voldy is defeated.  Harry, Snape, and Minerva are in 
the Head's office after all is said and done).

SNAPE:  I will be in my rooms.
MINERVA:  Pardon me, Mister Snape, what rooms are those?
SNAPE:  My professor's rooms, Headmistress.
MINERVA:  You are not a Hogwarts Professor, Mister Snape.
SNAPE:  Slughorn is staying, I know.  But DADA...
MINERVA:  Is open.  Why are you presuming I would ask you to fill the position?
SNAPE:  But who...
MINERVA:  I rather thought of offering the position to Mister Potter, here.
SNAPE:  But I....
MINERVA:  Was instrumental in bringing about the fall of Voldemort.  
But Mister Potter actually defeated the Dark Lord.  Who would be 
better to teach young wizards and witches than that?
SNAPE:  I have taught at Hogwarts for sixteen years!
MINERVA:  Taught?  You have imparted information efficiently, I 
admit.  You have also been childish, cruel, and stupidly 
irresponsible in your behavior.
SNAPE:  Dumbledore was satisfied with my methods!
MINERVA:  Albus doubtless had his reasons for putting up with your 
antics.  But Albus is gone.  I am Head now, and I do not choose to 
extend you the same leniency.
SNAPE:  This is all about Gryffindor!
MINERVA (sighing):  Everything is about Gryffindor to you, isn't it 
Severus?  You have never been able to put your grudges away, not even after all these years, not even after everything!
SNAPE:  I demand my rightful rewards!
MINERVA:  I will determine what your rightful rewards are at 
Hogwarts, Mister Snape.  And a teaching position are not among them.
SNAPE(flushed and pale):  Where am I supposed to go?
MINERVA(sighing again):  You may stay in guest rooms until you 
determine that, Severus.  But you must be gone by the start of term 
in the fall.
SNAPE: But where....
MINERVA (briskly): That is for you to determine, Mister Snape.  I am 
sure everyone at Hogwarts will help you as much as we can.  Now, if 
you will excuse us, Mister Potter and I must talk a little about the 
formalities of his taking over the DADA position.
SNAPE:  But....
MINERVA (firmly): Goodbye, Mister Snape.

END SCENE

There.  Neither of those scenes would take much more than a couple of pages, and either could fit nicely into the final book without 
constituting a diversion or a "bump" in the narrative.  Furthermore, 
I think either would satisfy almost everyone.  They are short and to 
the point, fitting into the flow of the final book as Miles and Steve desire.  They provide karmic retribution and third party intervention as Nora, Alla, and I desire.  And they even allow for a DDM!Snape. The last even allows for Snape to survive the final book.

So, I don't think the nature of the final book in any way makes it 
impossible for most of us to be more-or-less happy with Snape's final place on the wheel of karma.


Lupinlore