Harsh Morality

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 121066


> Nora:
It is definitely not a moral positive, in the Potterverse, 
to be feared--I think fairly categorically, really.  Maybe Snape 
will figure that out, sooner or later...

Pippin:
Dumbledore is feared by Voldemort.  What Snape has to figure 
out, IMO, is that Harry has true courage, not bravado. The 
bravado is all he sees, and he despises it, as well he  should. I 
don't want to be too soft on Snape, but before we castigate him 
for despising a child, how many of us are lucky that Draco is 
fictional?
 
What Snape sees in Harry, IMO, is what we are shown in Draco: 
an arrogant, rich spoiled brat who doesn't deserve his popularity, 
is indulged far too much by certain adults, breaks rules 
whenever he feels like it, and utterly idolizes his hideous father, 
whose true nature is not at all what everyone thinks.
 
You could argue that Snape ought to perceive what Harry (and 
James)  were really like, but how, if JKR is as good at hiding 
things from him as she is from us?


Alla:

Hmmm, I don't know, Pippin. I hate Draco as character within story 
quite passionately and even as avid ff reader I believe that very, 
very few writers managed to achieve his credible redemption, BUT in 
RL I would be very wary to give up on the eleven year old child , no 
matter how evil his parents are, therefore I consider Draco's 
portrayal to be one of JKR's biggest letdowns in the books.

Accordingly, yes, I do castigate Snape for despising Harry. As to how 
he would learn about Harry's true nature? Ummmm, I don't know, 
Severus try TALKING and ASKING questions of Dumbledore, Minerva, 
Harry's friends (yeah, that would be hard, I guess).

Or, try talk to Harry. Somehow I think that the teacher of the core 
subject should be able to figure out how to get to know one of his 
students.

JMO,

Alla