Depth? Things to take on their face value

[Cathy Drolet]

No: HPFGUIDX 139855

vmonte:
>>JKR's comments that "it's our choices that determine who we are" is 
also something that we should never forget.

>>Snape and Draco consistently choose to behave badly to the other 
characters in the series.

>>JKR is not going to let them off the hook for their actions. 

CathyD:
I'm so sorry you can see no hope for redemption in people, vmonte.  "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilites." (CS pg 245 Can Ed)  Not *determine* what we are.  Another I would add is: "You fail to recognise that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!" (GoF 614 Can Ed)

"Snape's always been fascinated by the Dark Arts, he was famous for it at school....Snape knew more curses when he arrived at school than half the kids in seventh year..."  (GoF 460 Can Ed)  Can we conclude, by that, that SS was raised in the Dark Arts?  I don't know, but he certainly was fascinated by them, created Sectumsempra apparently, and went on to become a Death Eater.  However, Severus made a choice to turn his back on that (was redeemed, IMO) when he joined the Order of the Phoenix back in VWI.  When he came to Dumbledore and told him what LV was going to do with the prophecy information.  Which put Dumbledore in the position of being able to do all he could to protect the Potters.  

Severus saved Harry's life in PS after recognizing, in an instant, what was going on with Harry's broom.  (As others have said, McGonagall did nothing.  What other teachers were there and did nothing?  It was SS who sprang into action.)  It was SS who tried to prevent Quirrell stealing the Philosopher's Stone, was bitten by Fluffy when heading off Quirrell on Hallowe'en, promised to be Quirrell's enemy if he didn't stop trying to steal the Stone and start being loyal to Dumbledore/Hogwarts.

Severus prepared - perfectly - Wolfsbane potion for Remus, every month as needed.  Despite his personal feelings for Remus.  SS was glad, even joyful, to have caught Sirius Black in the Shrieking Shack.  Not just as payback for *the prank*.  SS believed, still at this point, that Sirius had been the Potters' Secret-Keeper and was the one who thwarted Dumbledore's plan to protect James, Lily and Harry.  After Severus turning to the Order of the Phoenix for help, Sirius Black, James' best friend, turned them over to LV.  Sirius deserved to be *soul-sucked* in SS's mind, just as Harry thought so: "'He deserves it,' he said suddenly. 'You think so?' said Lupin lightly. 'Do you really think anyone deserves that?' 'Yes,' said Harry defiantly. 'For...for some things...'" (PA 183 Can Ed)

Severus made another choice at the end of GoF: "'Severus,' said Dumbledore, turning to Snape, 'you know what I must ask you to do.  If you are ready ... if you are prepared ...' 'I am,' said Snape. He looked slightly paler than usual, and his cold, black eyes glittered strangely. 'Then, good luck,' said Dumbledore, and he watched, with a trace of apprehension on his face, as Snape swept wordlessly after Sirius. It was several minutes before Dumbledore spoke again."  A choice to stay loyal to Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix (including Sirius incidentally), and to continue to play his role as Death Eater so he could spy on LV/DEs for DD.

In OotP the grudge between Severus and Sirius was still evident. Sirius had escaped and lost SS his Order of Merlin: the recognition Severus was after that he is indeed a good person.  Now that SS knows Sirius was not the Potter's Secret-Keeper, the grudge is back to *the prank* and the loss of the OM.  There is no doubt, IMO, that Severus is working for the Order.  It was he who found out that LV was after the Prophecy and would go to any lengths to get it.  It is because of this information that the Order was guarding the DoM. It was SS who provided fake Veritaserum to Umbridge.   It was SS who deciphered Harry's cryptic message about Padfoot and quickly set about determining Sirius' safety.  It was SS who, when Harry & Co. failed to return from the Forest, determined that they had gone to rescue Sirius and quickly notified the Order.  He couldn't go himself; he was needed at Hogwarts (the only Order member left there) and to appear at the MoM would put him at risk of breaking his cover.  (It was SS, IMO,  who informed Dumbledore of LV's anger 'terrible to behold' on finding out the diary had been mutilated and robbed of its powers and, in so doing, possibly confirmed what DD thought about the diary being a Horcrux.)

In HBP Severus works diligently to find out what Draco is up to.  He informs Draco that his attempts have been sloppy and if he continues in this way it will lead to his expulsion and, ultimately therefore, his death.  By the end of HBP Severus has saved the lives of Dumbledore, Draco and Katie Bell directly.  He saved Ron's life indirectly (perhaps even Draco, Harry, Flitwick, Luna and Hermione), and spared the lives of everyone in the school by ensuring that the Death Eaters and Greyback got out quickly.  

I do not see that Snape chose to behave badly toward the other characters in the series.  In fact, I see that he behaved as a member of the Order of the Phoenix would behave, with honour.   He is in a very delicate position.  He has two covers to maintain: that of member of the Order of the Phoenix, which he is, and that of Death Eater which he is playing.  He must maintain his Death Eater role in front of the children of Death Eaters.    Severus doesn't like Harry because he reminds him so undeniably of James, and Lily, and what he, SS, did to bring about their deaths.  He lives with it every day.  Every time he claps eyes on Harry he is reminded of what he did and who he did it to.  Apart from that he has to treat Harry as a "secretly unrepentant Death Eater" (thanks Pippin) would do: this is the kid that brought down the Dark Lord.  You can't expect SS to fawn over him or the tales that would be brought home to the likes of Lucius Malfoy would rip Severus' cover to shreds.

On thing, one incident, makes people forget everything Severus *has* done and done well.  One well placed - yet not so easily explained - AK.  However, this AK reacted in no way similarly to the others we have witnessed.  The results of this AK - apart from death - were in no way similar to those others we have witnessed.  Do I believe Dumbledore is well and truly dead? YES.  Do I think this AK killed him? NO.

As to Draco, I could care less what happens to him.  He's been a prat from the beginning of the series.  Whether JKR chooses to redeem him or not makes no difference to me.  If he dies saving Harry from Nagini, I will not shed one tear.  I cried buckets when Ginny told Harry what had happened to Bill.  I will cry buckets when Severus dies. as I'm certain he must, and not long into book 7.  I'm already stockpiling tissues in anticipation.

CathyD - begging pardon for the poor grammar, bad spelling and horrible punctuation

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