Horcrux!Snape doesn't cut it (was Evil Overlord for the day )

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 144678

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman" 
<susiequsie23 at s...> wrote:
<SNIP> 
> 
> Now, SNAPE as a horcrux... wouldn't that make the folks salivating 
> for karmic payback happy? :-)
> 

No, it certainly would not.  The problem with Snape as Horcrux, in 
terms of karmic payback, is that it just doesn't fit.  In that 
sense, Horcrux!Snape as a form of punishment serves the purpose no 
better than Murderer!Snape as a form of punishment.

In order for the punishment to be "karmic," or "poetic" if you 
prefer that particular term, it has to have direct resonance with 
the crime or fault.  Lockheart is a sterling example of this 
principle.  His crime lay in obliviating wizards to take the glory 
for their deeds.  Thus, he in turn is obliviated and cannot even 
remember his own name or actions.  One can argue the Dumbledore is 
another example of this.  His fault lies in detachment and failure  
to understand other people and to communicate adequately with them.  
The karmic backlash (perhaps most especially if you believe in DDM!
Snape) is in seeing his plans and his organizations -- both Hogwarts 
and the Order -- come to ruin due to his refusal to communicate and 
share his reasons for trusting Snape or his reasons for believing 
that Draco was no direct threat (and I don't believe for a minute 
that Dumbledore was dieing or planned to die at some point during 
the year).  The deep blow struck to the Order likewise comes pretty 
directly from Dumbledore's detachment and his failure to act 
agressively and effectively to heal the breech between Snape and 
Harry.

In order for payback to be "karmic," then Snape's punishment has to 
pretty directly arise from his abuse of Harry and Neville and be 
obviously tied to the faults he exhibited in perpetrating that 
abuse.  Horcrux!Snape has no such ties, and thus would fail 
abysmally as a form of poetic retribution.  If JKR presented it as 
such, I would say she has failed completely.


Lupinlore