[HPforGrownups] Re: ESE, DDM, OFH, or Grey? Snape with Lifedebt

[Scarah]

No: HPFGUIDX 162491

Sydney:

If the story was about Snape, yes.  But the story's about Harry.
OFH!Snape has no payoff for Harry as that's already who he thinks he
is (including life debt); ESE! has a bit of payoff in terms of a
little cheap revenge satisfaction (either by being the Bigger Man and
Forgiving him, or by dancing on his grave).  DDM!Snape has a huge
payoff for Harry's character, and it's the payoff we've been building
up to for six books.

Sarah:
I don't see Harry being sold on OFH whatsoever.  I think it's crystal
clear that Harry has bought ESE hook, line and sinker.  At least at
this point in time.  Harry has all the puzzle pieces to put together
OFH/Life Debt, but he hasn't done it, and Dumbledore won't tell him.
Harry believing so strongly in ESE at this time is another reason it
won't happen.

Sydney:

My point is that Lily being endangered *was* the effect of the Life
Debt and what *made* it a motive.

Sarah:
OK, I see what you're saying, and that might actually be the strongest
argument for Snape/Lily that I have ever seen.  But, you're making a
lot of assumptions about the machinations of the Life Debt, and so am
I.  :)  You think it is in the style of the DADA curse, I think it is
in the style of the UV and Goblet.

Sydney:

Yeah, that's the point.  Not to make Harry barf mind you, but to
effect some sort of turn around in Harry's hatred for Snape, which has
been a potent consistent strand of conflict from one end of the books
to the other.

Sarah:
We differ again.  I don't think that Harry, upon finding out that
Snape loved Lily, would suddenly think, "Gee maybe he's not such a bad
guy after all."  I think he'd be grossed out to the max, and hate
Snape more than ever.

Sydney:

Snape was '*cleared* by [the] council', he wasn't going to go to
Azkaban.

Sarah:
Would things have stayed that way, though?  If say, Snape worked for
Dumbledore for a few months or a year and then said he would see him
later?  I do not think that Snape would be an unemployable outcast,
but I do think that Dumbledore is a harsh mistress, so to speak.

Regarding "comfort:" Snape speaks of his comfortable job in chapter 2
of HBP.  He might be lying for the benefit of the Black sisters, but
I'm inclined to believe the basic outline.  Which is basically, why
not stay at Hogwarts?  I had Dumbledore, I had no Azkaban, who
wouldn't stay?

Sarah