[HPforGrownups] Re: Heroes and Not (WAS: Who killed Dumbledore?)

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 145235

Sydney wrote:
> I still don't understand how DDM!Snape makes him THE hero of the
> story.  I don't know what Hermionie, or Ron, or Lupin, or Hagrid(or
> possibly even Regulus Black!) will do to help Harry in the end, but
> how is Snape helping Harry uniquely damaging to Harry's heroism? 
> Snape is indeed a VERY strong presence in the story, as Orna says, and
> by the end of HBP, good or bad, Snape and Harry's relationship is
> established as the central conflict of the series-- the 'personal'
> one, as JKR put it.  But Snape is not the sort of character you make a
> protagonist.  He's like, I dunno, a truffle, or cardamon-- a little
> goes a very long way!  Harry's the MEAT of the story, Snape is the
> spice.  I certainly don't think Snape will Save the Day in Book 7,
> Harry will.  

Bart:
	OK, consider the following. There is the link between Harry and 
Voldemort. Voldemort has taken control of Harry's access, but Harry, 
having failed to learn Occlumancy, is still vulnerable. He needs to 
work, and he needs to work hard, if he is going to survive. For that, he 
needs motivation.

	Snape, intentionally or not, has provided that inspiration. Snape's 
taunting of Harry Potter might be gloating, but it is also pushing Harry 
in the direction of developing the necessary skills to beat Voldemort. 
So, either Snape is incredibly stupid, or deviously clever. The former, 
he is working for Tommy Riddle. The latter, he is working for Dumbledore.

	Take your pick.

	Bart