Neville and Snape (was What standards are we using)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 144365

Sistermagpie  wrote:

> 
> As for Pip's saying that Dumbledore has told Harry that Snape 
can't 
> leave him alone, I think again what she means is that Dumbledore 
is 
> telling Harry that Snape is weaker than he is.  Of course Snape 
should 
> leave him alone, but apparently he's not going to be able to be a 
> better man like Harry presumably can.  This in many ways may be 
the 
> biggest tragic flaw in Snape, that he can't prioritize, can't be 
> reasonable about his hatreds and fears.  More than one kid of the 
> current generation is possibly avoiding that fate.


Actually, I don't remember Dumbledore saying any such thing.  Now, 
that is what Dumbledore might have MEANT.  I can see that 
interpretation, although I think its stretching things mightily to 
wring it out of what little interaction Harry and Dumbledore have 
had concerning Snape.  But my response is that if that's what 
Dumbledore means then Dumbledore should have by lemon sherbets SAID 
that, and quit all his unhelpful (in fact in some ways positively 
harmful) beating around the bush.

But even if that is what Dumbledore meant, it's totally irrelevant.  
Snape's damaged?  Join the club.  As Pippin points out, lots of 
people in the Wizarding World are damaged.  Boo hoo.  Poor 'ickle 
thirty-eight year old Severus.  It in no way excuses his abuse of 
Harry and Neville, nor does it in any way release him from 
punishment for said abuse.  Any more than any damage Tom Riddle 
might have experienced in any way releases him from his ultimate 
fate.


Lupinlore