ESE!Lupin condensed

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 146866

Nora:
> It remains to be seen how much of the plot JKR loads onto Snape, 
> after all.  I wasn't surprised that he turned out to be the 
> eavesdropper--that makes good dramatic sense.  But she can't do that 
> much, or things tie up too neatly: Peter being involved helps spread 
> the load amongst more characters.  I got the impression that JKR 
> telling us who invented Wolfsbane was more of a "Dear fans, Snape 
> didn't do *everything*, you know" moment than anything else.

Jen: I'm wondering about Snape's overall plot purpose, too. I hesitate 
to say 'red herring' here because Snape's role in Dumbledore's death 
must be accounted for whether that means Harry's interpretation will 
hold true or he will learn more information. But Snape's role doesn't 
appear so back-end loaded to me now as it did immediately after HBP. 

Realistically, how much *page* time can Snape have? Likely Harry won't 
see Snape for much of the book. It won't be a situation like Sirius on 
the run in GOF, where he can believably appear in Hogsmeade to support 
Harry and provide some backstory for plot purposes. There won't be a 
reason for Snape to contact Harry and he wouldn't be welcome if he 
did. All news will be second-hand.

Sometimes I wonder if the arc for Snape will end up being a bit 
mundane. For that matter, that *all* the secondary adult characters 
will have one last pivotal moment in the sun and then fade to 
obscurity: Dumbledore's defeat of Grindelwald examined; Peter's life-
debt fulfilled; Sirius' death revisited; Snape's moment on the tower 
unveiled; and Lupin's backstory information about the Potters 
revealed. 

And I mean *really* mundane for Snape--no LOLLIPOPS, no more backstory 
besides the Prank, no reason for turning to Voldemort other than 
hatred of the Marauders (or some variation), and no great moment for 
turning back to Dumbledore other than the life debt or the already 
mentioned feelings of remorse.

For me the prophecy was a dud of an explanation even though we had 
more than enough hints it was coming. I could picture Snape ending up 
a bit like that--"you mean this is IT?"

JKR isn't writing about the adult characters with as much depth as I'd 
like to read. There are too many of 'em. Spending so much page time on 
Riddle evolving into Voldemort and revealing the horcuxes storyline 
makes me think most everything else will drop by the wayside in Book 
7, that unless a character has importance to the horcrux search and 
the final battle they will fall out. Snape's story may have served its 
main purpose, even if not yet wholly resolved.

Jen, hoping she is dead wrong and there are many sizzling mysteries 
left to be revealed.