Draco's debt to Snape (Was: LID!Snape rides again)

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 149883

> Carol responds:
> But there *is* magic involved in Snape's saving Draco. He's made a
UV
> to protect the boy.

Magpie:
I phrased that badly.  I just meant Draco does not now have a Life
Debt to Snape because he healed him in the bathroom (nor would Snape
probably want him to--imagine his face when he saw his own Dark
Magic at work there), not that there was no magical bond going on at
that time--the UV is a pretty big one, but it's a vow from Snape and
Narcissa. She owes him big time for saving her son, that's where the
debt is.  Let the adults owe each other.  Draco isn't magically
indebted for something between Snape and Narcissa, even if he owes
his life to it.  Nor is Harry indebted to Snape for his saving
Harry's life for similar reasons.

Carol:
> Does anyone think that Draco will end up turning the tables by
saving
> Snape's life, or at least risking his life for Snape's sake? How do
> the rest of you think the events of HBP will change their
> relationship, aside from ending the formal teacher/student (or
> HOH/student) connection?

Magpie:
Actually, I just wrote a big thing elsewhere about the potential for
Draco to save Harry's life and then use that Debt to pay Snape's
Debt to James (son paying his father figure's debt). It's not a
prediction, but it moves towards the future and creates a clean
slate in the important generation. (It would also involve a genuine
act of willing sacrifice and respect on Draco's part, all of which
would be great for a redeemed Snape story.)  Again, that's not a
prediction, it was just something I thought of as a possibility
given how I think LDs work and how to heal these old wounds and move
forward.

Carol:>
> What Draco owes Snape may not be a true Life Debt, but it's at the
> very least a debt of honor that deserves acknowledgment, and I'm
> curious to see how, and whether, Draco will repay it.

Magpie:
I do think Draco's rebellion against Snape is an HBP story, much as
Harry's rebellion against Dumbledore was part of OotP, so I don't
see a continuation of "You want my glory" stuff.  He doesn't argue
when Snape literally picks him up by the scruff of his neck and
orders him to run at the end.  There can still be a lot of tension
between them-neither of them know just where the other one stands
now, so can both be a danger to each other.

I don't think there's any "repaying" specifically to be done, or any
debt of honor--I mean nothing official beyond Draco's thoughts on
this man with whom he's got this important relationship, much of
which is hidden from us.  An emotional bond to Snape I would expect
to be a big part of Draco's character in future, but I don't think
the books move in the direction of kids owing debts to adults for
protecting them.  I feel like I'm not explaining this well, it's
just a generational thing. I do think Snape's having done this
should be a huge thing for Draco, just as Harry's parents dying for
him is.  Just not in the sense of being in Snape's debt now. That, I
think, is why Draco so adamantly rejects the UV.  In terms of his
own development, as bratty as it makes him sound in the short term,
it really is important that he not just say yes, his teacher has
certainly been nice to agree to do this for him and help him, so
he'll go to him for help.

Carol:
And am I the only one who sees parallels between the
> Draco/Snape relationship and Harry/Dumbledore?

Magpie:
Absolutely!  Which is why I think Draco's ultimately Snape's man
even at his most rebellious.  That, imo, is why Rowling took care to
show their relationship throughout the earlier books.  Snape's
patiently sitting out Draco's ridiculous "You want to steal my
glory!" stuff and understanding his need to do things on his own and
why ("I know your father's imprisonment has upset you...") is, I
think, probably a good part of Snape's development.  As immature as
Draco sounds, this is an important part of adolescence and his
growing up.  Teenagers in this series don't sit quietly and let
adults take care of things for them so they don't have to grow up.
I think Draco was correct in realizing that to do that would mean
never being a man. All the worse for Snape, but I think Snape
understood it.  By HBP Harry is able to freely declare himself DD's
man, and he can do that partially because he really doesn't feel
indebted to him.

Basically, this is a series about kids growing up, not one about 
adults getting the acknowledgement they deserve for all they put up 
with and do for kids.  So whatever troubles the kids cause for the 
adults, imo, is rarely going to be made up for.  Harry messed up 
Dumbledore's plans royally in OotP and got Sirius killed doing it, 
but he's not apologizing for it.  Similarly, I think Draco can 
certainly mature in his relationship towards Snape just as Harry 
did, getting through his antagonistic, rebellious stage, but I doubt 
he'll apologize for doing what he felt he had to do in HBP or feel 
he owes Snape anything for causing trouble any more than Harry 
apologized for it in OotP.  

-m