[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape as father figure

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 130948

I could continue but I'm getting long winded. All I'm trying to say is that
saying Snape 
doesn't have Harry's best interests at heart is contradictory to canon. And
it totally makes 
sense that Snape represents the authoritarian aspect of the "father figure".
I can totally see 
a scene coming at the end of book 7 in which Snape either a) sacrifices
himself to save 
Harry or b) Snape spends the battle covering Harry's back. I think we will
see a deepening 
respect between Snape and Harry in contrast to a cooling relationship with
Lupin.

- Princess Sara

Sherry now:
The way I read Snape's efforts to save Harry is a little different.  First
of all, he feels indebted to James for saving his life and believes he must
repay that by saving Harry's.  That isn't necessarily honorable or done out
of Harry's best interest.  It's Snape's best interest.  Also, as a Hogwarts
teacher, it is his duty to protect the children.  The WW doesn't seem to
care if a teacher is a deeply abusive person, in the verbal and emotional
sense, which in my opinion, Snape most definitely is, but it is his job to
protect the physical well being of the students.  I don't see his behavior
being motivated for caring about Harry, as an individual.  I see the
opposite.  I am quite sure it galls the hell out of him to have to protect
the son of James.  Again, a sign of his immaturity in not being able to see
that the son is not the father.  He can never truly have Harry's best
interest at heart, till he lets go of that old hate and recognizes that
Harry is not James.

Sherry