Snape's Other Victims

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 135516

Phoenixgod2000:

> 
> I've been thinking about this while I reread select parts of HBP 
and I 
> have to say that this is the one part of the book where I think DD 
> lets me down. I find it absolutely amazing (and infuriating) that 
DD 
> who has always insisted on Harry giving Snape respect when he knows 
> that Snape is the person who set in motion the events that left 
Harry 
> an orphan. It seems to that is a slap in the face towards Harry and 
> his loss. And when Harry comes to him in righteous anger he 
completely 
> dismisses Harry's feelings.
> 
> I don't think it matters which side Snape comes down on in the end. 
I 
> won't be able to see him as anything other than evil. The way this 
man 
> treats the two students he managed to help orphan tells me he can't 
be 
> anything else.
> 


Yes, that does open a can of worms, doesn't it?  JKR just seems to 
have a very hard time finding stable ground for Dumbledore when it 
comes to immense pain that has been afflicted on Harry (partly 
through his own decisions).  He seems cold and lacking in compassion 
at the end of OOTP, outraged at the Dursleys at the beginning of HBP, 
and then dismissive at the end of HBP.  Meanwhile, on other boards, 
the whole "DD softening Harry up at the Dursleys" is gaining ground 
again.  Round and round we go.

Obviously there is more to go (the hesitant moment that DD has when 
he seems about to tell Harry something). And JKR has said we will 
learn some more about DD (although how much is open to doubt). What 
will be revealed I don't dare guess.  But once again, Dumbledore 
seems like someone has cast a Plotus Devicium spell on him.

Overall, I would tend to agree with your evaluation.  Is Snape a DE?  
No.  Was he honestly working for Dumbledore through at least most of 
the series? Yes.  Did Dumbledore intend to die on the tower?  I don't 
know, but I doubt it - that would be SO contrived (although then 
again the whole Snape subplot in HBP reeks of contrivance, so I 
wouldn't be surprised to be wrong here).  Is Snape evil?  I think he 
is torn, and very likely to fall into evil given the right 
motivation.  


Lupinlore