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

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 144110

> Julie:
> Actually, I think Pippin accomplished that for me! I'd much rather  
see
> a real confrontation between Harry and Snape, with both of them  
gaining
> a truer understanding of the other, and both of them recognizing how
> they've sorely misjudged the other (I'm assuming DDM!Snape here). If
> Harry is the one to see the truth first, which he should since 
he's  our
> hero, and Snape with his decades-long grudges needs a good head-
> butting to admit his errors, then I'll applaud, because *that* fits 
the 
> characters. After all, there is a reason why Harry, despite the many
> tragedies he's endured, is able to enjoy happy, carefree moments, 
> while Snape wouldn't know happy if it slapped him in the face. 
> Harry ultimately likes himself, and Snape  doesn't.
> 



A good head-butting is what it would take!  Which is one reason I 
agree with Alla that third-party intervention is necessary, here.  
But there is a much deeper reason.  Snape is clearly in the wrong, 
and clearly, IMO, a child abuser, over and out.  This is not a matter 
of a personal disagreement between two parties, both of whom have 
somewhat valid positions.  This is a case of one party being so much 
more in the wrong than the other as to make a mockery of any kind of 
balance or mutual communication.  Such is the situation that 
pertained with the Dursleys, and such is the situation here.  As with 
the Dursleys, third party intervention is needed, not really so much 
to enforce any kind of settlement, but to underscore the radical 
difference in the moral positions of the parties involved.  I think 
if JKR goes as Pippin wants and makes this a meeting between two 
parties only, she will risk obscuring that radical difference in 
moral standing, and come very close, as she has once before in OOTP, 
to putting forth a defense and excuse for child abuse.


Lupinlore