[HPforGrownups] Did Snape give info about Sirius or not/ Cultural standards for Snape abusive o

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 144392

>> Magpie:
>>
>> Well, exactly--boo-hoo!  If it's boo-hoo for Snape then it's boo-
> hoo
>> for everyone else.  At 38 Snape is no longer the little child
> crying
>> in the corner, and Harry and Neville at 17 are not little boys of
>> 11.
>
> Alla:
> Huh? What does the argument that Snape being damaged does not excuse
> him for his actions has to do with the fact that Harry and Neville
> will indeed be seventeen?

Magpie:

I already said Snape was not EXCUSED for anything.

The point being that Dumbledore was talking about Snape's "wounds" referring 
to his problems with James and the response was well, boo-hoo.  Which I 
think is pretty realistic. Snape's inner child is not a big concern.  We see 
Snape crying in a corner as a child in a memory, but I doubt we're going to 
see those two adults dressed down for it.  Nor the girl who laughed at him 
while he was on his broom.  Nor will James and Sirius or Lupin be scolded 
for Snape--I think Lupin's saying "a stupid Prank," in PoA is in the same 
vein.  He's expected to move on and whatever his problems does not excuse 
his being nasty to Harry or Neville in class.  So I don't consider it a 
given that it's important 17-year-old Harry or Neville get something for 
Snape being mean to them when they were 11.

Would that be a fine thing for Snape to give them? Yes.  He, personally, 
does certainly owe them an apology for his treatment of them.  But I think 
the development of Harry and Neville is about growing beyond Snape, not 
being unable to heal until they get this.  Snape seems to be more like that, 
actually. I honestly can't imagine Harry or Neville *needing* this kind of 
thing.  Appreciating it if it were genuine certainly, but I don't think 
they're hurting without it.

I'm not talking about excusing Snape for anything.   I know what Snape does 
in class, and that he is abusing his position of authority as a teacher. I'm 
sure Snape will have an ending that fits everything he's done in the story, 
but the idea of Snape and Neville's inner children being of that kind of 
importance seems like a step backwards and kind of embarassing for them if 
it comes down to Snape being chastized and scolded--that seems more fitting 
for PS.  If Snape genuinely apologizes, that will not be embarassing--that 
would give Snape more dignity than he's had thusfar.

-m