Harry's role vis-a-vis Snape

[jenkuy24]

No: HPFGUIDX 141924

In my opinion Severus Snape is none of the above, DDM, OFH, ESE, nor 
suicidal Snape. Severus Snape is straddling those two opposing 
worlds – good and evil. To this point he has not had to make the 
ultimate decision about where his allegiance lies. He has a hand in 
each side- not for his own personal gain, but because this is the 
life that has presented itself. He is doing what he can to survive, 
and he has not had to make the ultimate decision yet about who he 
is.  

I do believe there was genuine remorse from him about his days as a 
death eater. And I believe he has served Dumbledore well. However, 
with the curse from the DADA job "bringing out his worst", the 
intensifying hatred between Harry and Snape, and his agreeing to the 
UV, he can be seen as just as fully committed to the dark side. 

Someone else has pointed out that his names, Severus and Snape 
represent his good and evil sides respectively, based upon who uses 
which name. Dumbledore continually refers to him as 
Severus/Professor Snape, as do several others, which seems to bring 
out the good/humanitarian instincts in him. Dumbledore is 
continually reminding Harry to refer to him as Professor Snape. On 
the other hand, other people, including Harry and Sirius, 
continually refer to him simply as Snape. They only see the side of 
him bent towards evil and from him they receive bad treatment. 
However, we all know that Severus Snape has both good and bad 
elements within him, just like all of us. 

I don't believe it will be Snape who will make the final decision 
about which way Snape will go- it will be Harry! Can Harry overcome 
his deep hatred and see that even Snape has good in him? Harry will 
have to finally believe in Professor Snape to do the right thing. 

One of Dumbledore's chief traits is the ability to trust that people 
will rise to the occasion. If they do have any good in them 
(everyone except Voldemort, and now even he has Harry's love blood 
flowing in his veins), Dumbledore expects them to do the right 
thing. He has faith- and if Harry can find faith in Professor Snape 
to choose good, Prof. Snape will. This will be one of Harry's final 
acts of personal development and growth, in fact perhaps his last- 
to recognize the element of good in everyone. (I believe this will 
somehow happen with Voldemort/Tom Riddle as well).

Of course, IMO, the only possible outcome is for Harry to fully 
develop into the hero we are hoping for, and for Snape to do the 
right thing. 


Thanks for listening.

Jenny