CHAPDISC: HBP24, Sectumsempra

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 161262

Carol:
> I think we're supposed to be astounded by Snape's inventiveness as
> a Healer as well as creator of this Dark spell and by this new
> side of him. Certainly he has memorized this complex spell and
> immediatelyapplies it, not once but three times, to great effect.
> He keeps his head in a crisis, in contrast to Slughorn, who is
> flustered and completely forgets about bezoars when Ron is 
> poisoned.

Jen: And yet since most of us knew by that point Snape was the HBP, 
we're also reminded he created the "Dark Magic" Sectumsempra to 
begin with.  It's impossible for me to see only the Healer in this 
scene and not the destructive person who would invent such a curse.  
I didn't have time to elaborate earlier, but the reason I think the 
healing spell symbolizes repentance is because Snape is both the 
cause of destruction and the means for healing the wounds he helps 
create.  Snape did not make Harry cast that spell, no, it's the 
larger issue of the kind of person who would invent that spell to 
begin with, that's a crucial piece of information in HBP.  And this 
scene is a pivotal one:  A combination of the boy Snape was and the 
man he has become.  Harry only sees one side of Snape, the darkness, 
and likely his point of view will be put to the test in the last 
book.  I find it impossible to see only positive attributes about 
Snape in this scene, though.