for whom are the books named?

[jmnabers]

No: HPFGUIDX 134226

Del writes: Basically, it's something like "nobody else can do 
anything better than Harry because it would take away from Harry".



I don't think it's saying that at all. I think the point is that if 
Harry is to really defeat Voldemort in the end, he will have to rely 
totally and utterly on his own instincts. 

The way I see it, Harry has had 2 mentors. Sirius, who agreed with 
him that Snape was not to be trusted; and Dumbledore, who disagreed 
and trusted Snape totally. Both of these men are now gone. In book 7, 
Harry will have to deal with Snape on his own terms, and without 
thier influence.

I don't find that boring, I find it totally and absolutely necessary 
if we are to believe in Harry as "the chosen one." He can't rely on 
the convictions of others, only on himself.

And to the idea that it would be "boring" if Harry were right, well 
IMHO, it would be just as boring if Dumbledore were always right. 
Isn't the amazing things about these books the fact that NO ONE is 
always completely good and completely right; likewise, no one is 
completely evil or completely wrong. Even Voldemort has a tragic past 
to help us understand him. In fact, I find it an amazing twist---we 
are told for so long that Snape is above reproach that we find Harry 
a bit silly for always suspecting him. Like Hermoine and Ron, we roll 
our eyes at his insistence that Snape is up to something. In fact, 
Harry was right---but the interesting question is: from when? Has 
Snape been a double agent all along, or was he turned back to the 
Death Eaters at some later point? When was that? Why?  That to me is 
a pretty interesting thought.

One last comment: I really don't understand why Dumbledore would be 
made a "fool" by trusting Snape. He never feared death, and he 
embraced love. He says himself his own mistakes are bigger than 
others because he is so much more powerful. Dumbledore never 
considered himself infalliable...so why should we? EVERYONE makes 
mistakes, and if Snape is truly bad (as I believe) that doesn't make 
me think any less of Dumbledore at all. The ability to trust and love 
ohter people is more heroic than foolish, even if you are proven 
wrong in the end.

Jennifer