Lily/Snape

[katssirius]

No: HPFGUIDX 150472

JKR does not write main characters that are one-dimensional.  
Professor Snape is second only to the trio for appearances in the 
books and therefore must have the dimensions of an excellent main 
character including feelings that the reader understands.  Severus 
Snape appears to be bad tempered and cruel without reason.  This 
should alert us.  We may be leaping to conclusions.  JKR loves to 
trap her readers into judging a character's actions on too little 
information.  She devotes an entire book (POA) to trapping her 
characters and her readers into judging Sirius Black.

I believe Severus Snape switched sides.  He made a choice and JKR's 
characters reap the costs and the rewards of their choices. 
Professor Snape must feel the guilt for his acts while he was a 
Death Eater and guilt as one of the few people who might have 
prevented Lily's death.  His own prejudice against Sirius may have 
led him and led Dumbledore to believe Black was the traitor.  An old 
grudge blinded him to Pettigrew.  Consequently, Lily died.  Severus 
turns his grief into rage and directs it at Harry.   An infant who 
survives his birth while his mother does not may feel guilty for 
having "killed" his mother.  Adults may also blame the child, 
especially in a dysfunctional family, and Severus Snape's memories 
give us every reason to assume he grew up in one.  His rage is even 
greater because Lily exchanged her life for Harry's rather than as 
an accidental sacrifice.

Severus Snape blames Harry for his mother's death and he blames 
Neville for not being the boy in the prophecy.  In Snape's grief 
Neville could have prevented the death if he had been the one with 
the power the Dark Lord knows not and Harry could have prevented his 
mother's death by sacrificing himself.  Lily's eyes look out at 
Severus reminding him of his loss every time he sees her son.  
Harry's risks and rule breaking must seem ungrateful to Snape just 
as it does to Professor Lupin in POA (pg 290 Am hardback).  Severus 
Snape continues to honor Lily Potter by protecting Harry while at 
the same time he hates Harry for not being worthy of Lily's 
sacrifice.  We leave HBP with Harry blaming Snape for Sirius' and 
Dumbledore's death.  These two are moving towards a resolution that 
will bring redemption to Snape in Harry's eyes and forgiveness for 
Harry from Snape.   

"katssirius"