Snape and Harry - Who dies? (Was: Horcrux hunting)

[rebecca]

No: HPFGUIDX 153159

>Carol said:

>I absolutely agree that no one knows more about the Dark Arts than
>Snape and that he's the person most likely to know how to destroy a
>Horcrux without dying in the process. I think that Snape will prove
>his loyalty (and usefulness) to Harry by destroying a Horcrux in front
>of him and surviving.

><snip>

>After all, Harry is the hero of the story.

>Carol, who thinks that Snape won't die simply because that's what
>readers expect to happen and JKR loves to pull the rug out from under us


rebecca:

Ohhhh, Carol.  Your sig lines always entice a different thought process, 
don't they? Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I actually think Snape will die, and will be redeemed in Harry's eyes by his 
death in some way. This goes against the most literary epics one can compare 
HP to, however I rather think this septology is more geared to a 
coming-of-age type of fiction.  Based on my interpretation of that literary 
style, HBP covered the following:

- Our "hero" finally becoming an adult (although that won't be to the next 
book factually, emotionally he's already there to shoulder the burden of 
responsibility)
- Our recent antagonist (Snape in this case) trying to make our hero 
emotionally a child again towards the end (review what Snape said to Harry 
when he admitted he was the HBP when fleeing Hogwarts)

You're probably wondering why I chose Snape as the antagonist rather than 
Voldemort? JKR made me do it after reading her interview last summer with 
Mugglenet/Leaky:

"JKR: Well, okay, I'm obviously - Harry-Snape is now as personal, if not 
more so, than Harry-Voldemort. I can't answer that question because it's a 
spoiler, isn't it, whatever I say, and obviously, it has such a huge impact 
on what will happen when they meet again that I can't."

She *does* infer that the conflict between the 2 has possibly escalated 
beyond Voldemort-Harry at this stage, so who's the immediate seeming 
antagonist?  Snape. One wonders that given Snape killed Dumbledore, won't 
Voldemort be slightly jealous of the attention Snape gets from the other 
Death Eaters as a result?  Jealousy is a many headed beast, and my thought 
is LV will view Snape as a rival eventually - he most assuredly won't be 
happy once he's thought about it that Snape, not him, killed who is 
considered by many to be "the greatest wizard of the age." (This a risk when 
you have others do your dirty work for you, no matter how much plotting and 
planning you have behind the action - LV wants to be credited with what he 
does, ergo the diary in CoS.) Thus, Snape either dies a redemptive death, or 
is about to die and Harry saves him from immediate death putting Snape right 
back where he started: owing his life to a Potter. Talk about history 
repeating itself.....he can then sacrifice himself destroying a Horcrux for 
Harry. This latter thought, my friends, is what I predict for the 4th or 5th 
chapter of the book. Redemption has to happen early so Snape can sacrifice 
himself later for the last bit of Voldie, the one I believe to be in Harry's 
scar.  (I don't believe this honor will be afforded to life debted Wormtail, 
whom I believe to be destined for Nagini lunch.  Snakes *eat* rats. 
Ewwwww.) Just remember, eyes are the windows to the soul and from whom does 
Harry learn that eye contact is essential for magic?

JKR basically dedicated a book to his self imposed moniker, even though the 
story is also about Tom Riddle's past. It's got to count for something, if 
her actions speak louder than words?  Discuss amongst yourselves :)

rebecca