Snape, Apologies, and Redemption--Lupin vs. DD

[leslie41]

No: HPFGUIDX 152644

> Alla: 
> Where does Snape own responsibility for his actions? Instead of 
> going to Azkaban to pay his dues for his DE days, he gets a nice 
> job of Hogwarts professor and Dumbledore's protection.

Leslie41:
There is owning up to one's responsibility with words, and then 
there is owning up to one's responsibility with *actions.*

Would *you* like to trade places with Snape, and be a double agent 
and spy on Voldemort?  "Dumbledore's protection" indeed.  
Dumbledore's the one who's sending him out to spy for the order, 
often insisting that Snape do things he most obviously would rather 
not do.  Name someone who has a more dangerous job.  Just one name 
will do. 

Alla:
> Instead of humble apology to Harry for playing part in his 
> parents' deaths, he well .... treats Harry badly (that is me 
> understating things a lot)

Leslie41:
Yes, he "treats Harry badly".  He's nasty to him.  He also saves 
Harry's life. Where it counts Snape demonstrates more concern for 
Harry's well being than even Lupin.  I'm not saying Snape likes 
Harry.  He doesn't.  Which is all the more reason to admire him for 
consistently attempting to protect him.  

Humble apologies are nice.  But I would rather that someone be 
cursorily mean to me yet consistently demonstrate responsible and 
protective *behavior*.   

Lupin, for example, is a very nice person.  He'd be the first one to 
apologize, even if he wasn't actually in the wrong.  But in PoA, he 
rushes off to the whomping willow, forgetting to take his wolfsbane, 
and nearly ends up killing Harry (and anyone else who might have 
gotten in his way).

And just how did nasty, unapologetic Snape end up at the whomping 
willow? Was he spying on Lupin, or looking for goods on Harry?  No.  
Snape, consistently responsible SNAPE, realizes that Lupin has 
missed his wolfsbane.  Not only has he brewed it, he brings it to 
Lupin personally to see to it he takes it.    

Snape is not a man of nice words, or humble apologies.  And he was a 
Death Eater.  But since that time he has shown himself to be a man 
of consistently correct *action* where it counts, even towards those 
he dislikes, whether it's brewing the wolfsbane for Lupin or 
muttering countercurses to protect Harry.  Snape is the epitome of 
responsibility.  He takes responsibility when it really matters.  

>  Instead of getting caught for Dumbledore's murder....

Leslie41:
Ah, but that's a matter that's been hashed over many times, and it's 
by no means clear that Snape is the bad guy.  Only Book VII will 
tell.