Power vs. Trust (was:The Possibilities of Grey Snape...)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 142984

> >>Sydney:
> <snip>
> We're all used to seing the 'reversal' in a revenge story, where  
> Our Hero has been the underdog in a relationship, and then the    
> tables turn, and the hero has power over the antagonist.  No doubt 
> this is where the 'Snape as villain' expectation comes from and no 
> doubt JKR has used it to enhance the red-herring role of Snape.   
> However, in my opinion, the 'power' aspect has been played as far  
> secondary to the trust and misunderstanding aspect, which is where 
> the primary tensions have been left open.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I'll add that I don't think Snape has had much power over Harry 
throughout the series.  Other than a few detentions Snape hasn't 
even had much authority over Harry.  Any time he's tried to do so 
he's been shot down either by Dumbledore or McGonagall or Lupin or 
Fake!Moody or Sirius.  And Harry has shown that he doesn't see Snape 
as an authority figure by refusing to call him by his title.  By HBP 
Harry is openly answering back to Snape.

So it's hard for me to see their relationship as so unequal as to 
place Harry as the underdog awaiting a reversal.  Of course when it 
comes to fighting Snape is the stronger wizard, but that doesn't 
seem to be the direction JKR is taking her story.  (Or at least, 
it's a little late in the day to suddenly send Harry to wizarding 
boot camp, IMO.)

Betsy Hp