Snape as father figure, was Sirius as Father Figure

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 130935

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214"
<dumbledore11214 at y...> 
wrote:

>  But I think you are going further than simply analysing Snape's 
> plot function, right? You are arguing bond between them on the 
> emotional  level, correct? 
> 
> What can I say? It is indeed possible  that Snape became constant
in 
> Harry's world in a negative sort of way, but I honestly doubt  that 
> Snape's loss would devastate Harry, IF nothing would change between 
> them till the end.
> 
> So, Harry would be surprised that somebody who hated him for so
long  is not here anymore. I think he would get over such surprise
fast 
 enough, or at least I hope so ( that is if Harry himself survives
of  course).
> 
> So far, the only valuable lesson ( IMO only) which Snape gave to 
> Harry is NOT to be like him , NOT hold grudges against dead people 
> and  especially their kids, NOT become bitter at the world,and at 
> least try to forgive, if not your enemies than at least their 
> children, who really did not do anything to you.
> 
> I suppose those kind of lessons ARE valuable indeed ( I am not 
> being  sarcastic here)
> 
> To conclude, I see what you are saying in the general kind of sense 
> ( and it does not come as a surprise to me - I have read some of 
> Snape as Harry's father fanfiction ), but I think that Harry 
> deserves REAL kind of father figure, the one which would love him, 
> NOT hate him, even if such bond of hatred is one of the stable 
> things in Harry's life so far. 
> 

Pippin:
It would be nice if Harry had such a father in the same way it 
would be nice if Voldemort gave up seeking world domination 
and decided to devote his energies to becoming all-wizard
Gobstones champion, ie, it would give the characters 
something to cheer about and completely spoil the story
from the reader's point of view.

IMO, Harry's challenge is to grow into someone who could be a 
capable father himself despite having lost the good father 
he had in James. That means he has to winnow the good 
from the bad in all his father figures, Snape included. 

It's true that Snape doesn't love Harry -- but
as every parent learns, parenting has to be done even when 
you don't feel loving, even when it's tedious, even when 
your kids remind you of  everything you hate. 

Sirius was a great parent --when he felt like being one. When he
didn't, he was almost as appalling as Snape. ::ducks rotten veggies::

A good father would be as loving as Sirius without the inconstancy,
as constant as Snape without the cruelty, as affectionate as Arthur
without the passivity, as proactive as Dumbledore without the 
distance -- you get the idea. 

If Harry never learns to appreciate Snape's constancy, the way
that Snape kept trying to do what was asked of him despite his 
obvious dislike and unsuitablity for the task, then Harry will have 
failed to learn something he needs to know to be an effective 
parent. 


Pippin