Resignation & Book 7 Predictions (Way long/HBP Spoilers)

[ladyljd]

No: HPFGUIDX 133623

Newbie here, needing to vent.  Apologies in advance ...

After finishing HBP, I remain frustrated and bitter even after a few
days of reflection.  The destruction of both of my favorite Potter
characters was bad enough.  (Who knew one would murder the other?!) 
But this is only the first stab in the heart.  The knife twists by
revealing the murderer to be deliberately evil rather than the
anti-hero I believed him to be.  And finally salt is poured in the
wound by the planting of confusing clues designed to feed hope for
redemption that will never come.  

There is no doubt in my mind now of JKR's intentions for Snape.  I've
spent some time researching her interview statements over the past few
days.  I'm convinced of her thought processes now.  In short, Severus
Snape was never meant to be anyone's favorite character.  And Albus
Dumbledore was always meant to have a fatal flaw: his abundant
capacity to love.  Here are the quotes on which I base these opinions:

Ali: Why specifically does Dumbledore trust Snape?
JK Rowling replies -> Another excellent and non-answerable question. I
shall merely say that Snape has given Dumbledore his story and
Dumbledore believes it.

Q: What about Snape?
JKR: Snape is a very sadistic teacher, loosely based on a teacher I
myself had, I have to say. I think children are very aware and we are
kidding ourselves if we don't think that they are, that teachers do
sometimes abuse their power and this particular teacher does abuse his
power. He's not a particularly pleasant person at all. However,
everyone should keep their eye on Snape, I'll just say that because
there is more to him than meets the eye and you will find out part of
what I am talking about if you read Book 4. No, I'm not trying to drum
up more sales, go to the library and get it out. I'd rather people
read it. 

Q: One of our internet correspondents wondered if Snape is going to
fall in love. 
JKR: (JKR laughs) Who on earth would want Snape in love with them?
That's a very horrible idea. 

Q: There's an important kind of redemptive pattern to Snape
JKR: He, um, there's so much I wish I could say to you, and I can't
because it would ruin. I promise you, whoever asked that question, can
I just say to you that I'm slightly stunned that you've said that and
you'll find out why I'm so stunned if you read Book 7. That's all I'm
going to say.

Q: Who's your favorite character besides Harry Potter? 
A: It's very hard to choose. It's fun to write about Snape because
he's a deeply horrible person. Hagrid is someone I'd love to meet. 

Given all of the above, I'm arrogantly offering my Book 7 predictions
on what will happen with my favorite characters.  When you read it you
will know why, for me, all of the magic has on out of the Potter world:

•	The story will be a Harry Potter version of The Davinci Code with
the trio traveling to magically historic places in search of the
missing Horcruxes.  Each location will reveal more of Snape's and
Voldemort's secrets.  

•	The story will pick up immediately after HBP events and reveal Snape
as relieved and delighted to finally be free of his tiresome role
serving Dumbledore and teaching his ungrateful brats.  Free of being a
double agent, he will dive whole-heartedly into his revealed role as
Voldemort's right hand man.  This probably means he has a few rivals
to kill to keep his place secure before the ultimate end (Bellatrix?
Lucius? ).  He will have no contact with the side of light until the
final battle.

•	Dumbledore is well and truly dead.  He leaves no written directions
and his portrait will only awaken to once the final battle is over.

•	Snape will be revealed to have been serving his own ends at all
times.  Yes, the greatest wizard of all times was made a fool by the
consummate spy.  To support this, Snape himself will be revealed to be
a very powerful wizard in his own right.  His skills allowed him to
easily dupe and appease Dumbledore in all situations confirming the
HBP chapter 2 version of events verbatim.  Dumbledore will be revealed
to have been completely blinded by love and sympathy for what he
believed was Snape's genuine sorrow and repentance.  

•	An ironclad reason will be provided as to why Snape is firmly in
Voldemort's camp and I believe it will be BLOOD or his heritage.

•	Snape will be the perfect counterbalance to Harry in JKR's morality
of play of "choices".  As Dumbledore always preached, your life and
destiny are what you make it.  Book 7 will fully reveal the
similarities of life experiences for both Snape and Harry and how
Harry has consistently chosen well in comparison to the evil former spy.

•	The present day Lord Voldemort will play just as minor a role in
Book 7 as he did in HBP.  The bulk of the text will follow the course
of the Davinci Code styled adventure packed with all sorts of damning
revelations about Snape's easy duplicity to both the Dark Lord and
Dumbledore.  We will be left in no doubt of Snape's self serving path
of evil destruction.

And then, just as all hope seems lost to Snape fans, JKR will hit us
again.  Snape will have some sort of Road to Damascus experience just
before the finale`.  This experience will cause him to pursue the path
of redemption once again, only this time he'll really mean it.  He
will once again switch sides and help Harry defeat Voldemort.  And I
believe this help will come in form of Snape somehow using his BLOOD
or heritage as a weapon of destruction.

In the end who knows what will happen to Snape?  My gut says JKR is
just as likely to kill him as she is to leave him alive to suffer the
consequences of his evil.  I can definitely see a "death is too good
for him" approach.

Regardless of whether I'm right or wrong here, Book 7 will make one
thing perfectly clear: Severus Snape was NEVER a hero.  His choices to
do the things he did made him the "deeply horrible person" he became.
 And even a last act of redemption will never be able to make up for
the evil of his past.  

Like I said, I'm bitter!  The thrill is gone.  If you've made it this
far, please let me know your thoughts on my ranting.  And thanks!!

Ljd