JKR's answer to "Was Snape ever loved?"

[tamuril elensar]

No: HPFGUIDX 134783

Melanie:

And you probably don't think Draco will be redeemed and is
probably
getting killed right now, don't you? Here is thing I understand the
logic and I
hate Snape I do...but the thing is I can't handle him being evil it's
just not
fair! 
-----

No actually... I don't.  That would be the opposite of what I wrote
above... the point being that you belived DD in the books thinking
Snape was innocent. Turns out we may have thought wrong.   In the case
of Draco, the reader is pretty convinced he is evil.. and unfeeling. 
Seeing him crying in the bathroom is surprising and seeing him with DD
in the end may be surprising too -- I wasn't too surprised there only
becuase he is 16 -- murder you would hope would come more difficult to
him.  

Robyn