How will Snape come back?

[quick_silver71]

No: HPFGUIDX 162628

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at ...> 
wrote:
<snip>
> Carol:
<snip>
>As for Snape reaching Hermione, I suppose
> there's some hope. She alone of the Trio believed Dumbledore that he
> was trustworthy, and (very oddly, given her year-long antagonism to
> the HBP) she tells Harry after learning his identity that "evil is a
> strong word" to describe the teenage inventor of Sectumsempra who 
grew
> up to kill Dumbledore. I don't think that Snape will contact 
Hermione,
> but she may start thinking about him and trying to get Harry to
> understand his motivations. Maybe he'll send a changed Patronus and
> she'll figure out whose it is and send him a message using her own. 
> 
> Redeemed!Hermione! (I don't like all the revenge she's been taking, 
so
> if she's the one who convinces Harry that Snape is on their side, or
> secretly works with him, I'll be happy.)

Quick_Silver:
Ok I've snipped a lot here to get to point at I wanted to respond to. 

I just have trouble seeing any character, be it Arthur, Lupin, 
Hermione, Hedwig, etc, knowingly influencing Harry about Snape at 
this point in novels (they may unknowingly influence Harry's view on 
the matter). I think that if Harry discovers Snape to be "good" it 
will probably be though either his own actions or the actions of 
Snape not an intermediary. In my mind (and I'm prepared to be wrong 
on this) having another character approach Harry about Snape (other 
then Snape himself) is too close to Dumbledore simply telling Harry 
to "trust" Snape (we call know how that went). 

Also I think it almost, cheapens, the redemption of Snape in Harry's 
eyes
sure Snape is good but Harry needed someone to point everything 
out to him. It solves the problem but leaves the reasoning that led 
to evil!Snape unchallenged in Harry's mind (it's fixing the problem 
of Snape without fixing the problem that led to hating Snape in 
Harry). Harry figuring out on his own will require a fair amount of 
introspection whereas if Harry has it handed to him
I fear he'll 
avoid the needed introspection. 

And to tie it in to Draco (I've been in a Dracoish mood lately) the 
new understanding of Draco that Harry has by the end of HBP (the pity 
etc) comes not from any plan of Dumbledore's (indeed the Harry vs 
Draco in HBP is interesting because Harry learns so much
and 
Dumbledore doesn't seem to realize it
but that is neither here nor 
there) but from Harry's own independent actions and observations. So 
I can see JK taking the same route with Snape
Harry slowly piecing 
together the puzzle. 

Quick_Silver (prepared to be wrong about everything in this post)