[HPforGrownups] Evil Hermione/DD trust in Snape

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 154798

houyhnhnm:

> It parallels Harry's use of sectumsempra and I think we
> are meant to see it that way.

While I think Harry's use of sectumsempra a big problem, I don't consider it 
in the same light as Hermione's hex.  Hermione knew the hex she used and its 
effects.  Harry did not know the effects of
sectumsempra.  Harry's use of the curse was in ignorance (albeit inexcusible 
to plan to use a spell in ignorance), while Hermione's hex was in full 
knowledge.

Magpie:
Also, despite the fact that Harry didn't know what the spell did he still 
feels remorse over it, I think at least partially because on some level the 
spell did do what he intended.  That is, he knows he was throwing the spell 
at someone he hated, so it's probably hard for him not to acknowledge that 
whatever he thought the spell did, the Prince gave him what he promised, a 
spell "for enemies."  Whatever the reason we know that Harry does feel badly 
about what he did even after the counterhex is performed.

On another note, regarding Marietta's conflict, I do agree that she made one 
stupid decision after another.  She certainly shouldn't have signed the 
Parchment--she should have walked out of the meeting.  But I see no reason 
to write a different reason for her ultimate decision to go to Umbridge than 
the one Cho gives us or think that Marietta should have gone to her mother 
instead.  Marietta going to her mother just adds unnecessary complications 
and characters we don't know for the same result.  We already know what her 
mother's advice would be--obey the Ministry Headmistress and tell her what's 
going on. It goes right along with the other ideas in OotP.  As wrong as 
Marietta's decision was, I accept that the choices for her were either to 
continue to keep her mouth shut or tell Umbridge.

wynnleaf:
Neither Harry, nor his friends, when they eventually find out Snape was the 
one doing the countercurse, are in any way dissuaded from the notion that 
Snape would like to see Harry dead.  Why? Because he's
acted hateful toward Harry.  Certainly, many readers aren't dissuaded 
either.  If Snape really had any interest in people not believing him a 
"likely suspect" in the event of foul play on Harry, he has acted in
the height of stupidity to show such open hate toward him.

Magpie:
Also, I think this explanation for Snape's saving Harry is mushy and a 
cheat.  The whole question about Snape is what you describe here, that he 
acts like Harry's enemy (if this were a school story he would be the enemy) 
and yet on the Voldemort level he's his protector.  A convuluted explanation 
after the fact that Snape only acted to protect Harry because maybe somebody 
might have been suspicious if he hadn't to me is like the author admitting 
that she came up with fake scenes to create ambiguity when there was none. 
He's acting not in response to stuff in the book but stuff that wasn't 
written.

The end of the series, imo, has to work at least as well as the end of 
PS/SS, which takes into account both Snape's mean behavior and his 
protecting Harry without fudging on either of them.  That's the way JKR has 
worked in the past as well.  When Barty Crouch explains why he helped Harry 
in the TWT he's not doing it just in case someone thought he should be 
helping Harry, but because he had a real reason to help him.  It all fits 
strongly together. There's nothing that's just there to be confusing.  If 
Snape saved Harry to avoid suspicion there would have to be some sign of 
that before the fact, or at least signs that that set up was there--signs 
written in the text, not stuff we can speculate based on the situation as we 
know it.
-m