Harry and Snape (was Re: Ron and Hermione in Deathly Hallows

[julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 174186

Christy
> 
> Now, I know someone will slam me about his feelings for Slytherin 
> house (and I know that there is whole thread on the topic of 
> Slytherin) -- Harry is a flawed character (that's why he's easy 
> to accept, he's not perfect). Yes, he relies on what others tell 
> him (i.e., evil wizards come from Slytherin), but he has just 
> learned about his heritage for the first time (that in itself 
> is a lot for an 11 year to take in) and the truth about his 
> parents, and, let's be honest, Draco Malfoy and Professor Snape 
> don't make good first impressions.  His only prejudices seem to 
> be toward Slytherin -- and they do have some basis in personal 
> experience with individual Slytherins.  Slughorn is the first 
> Slytherin he meets who doesn't seem out to get him.  And the 
> fact that his attitude toward Slytherin in the epilogue of book 
> 7 is vastly different than his attitude in book 1 speaks volumes 
> about his growth as a person...  So, 37-year-old Harry has the 
> whole tolerance/acceptance/love thing nailed...  (Gee, I'm 46 
> and sadly I can't say the same about myself...)

Julie:
I happen to agree with you, Christy. Your post also touches
on a subject I'm sure many of us have been wondering about,
and that is why Harry named his second son Albus *Severus*.
Was it just because Snape was brave, because he loved Lily,
and because he protected Harry and ultimately died to
honor that love? Even though he was also a mean, bitter
man and a bully of a teacher?

Maybe. We could also assume more happened later, like a 
letter left from Snape to Harry, or conversations between
Harry and the (eventually placed) Headmaster!Snape portrait
that led to even more of an understanding and even a 
reconciliation between the two. Anything is possible. 

Yet I think what we saw, coupled with Harry's own personality
and maturation after DH, could be enough. Nothing happens in
a vacuum, and it always takes two to set the definition of
any relationship. And I think Harry came to realise this.

Before anyone jumps down my throat, YES, Snape was the adult,
YES, Snape started it with his own bias against Harry based
on the resemblance to James. Snape bears the brunt of the 
blame for their mutual antagonism. I'll say it again, it
is mostly SNAPE'S fault. But. But...

A more mature and empathetic Harry may be able to look back
and realize that he played his part--perhaps far smaller
than the part played by Snape, but still his part--in the
continued animosity between the two of them. Perhaps Harry
thinks to himself, "How many times did I lie to Snape, and
not just for noble reasons, but sometimes just because I
wanted my own way (to go to Hogsmeade) or I wanted to hide
something I knew wasn't quite on the up and up (the HBP's
Potions book)?" or "No matter how crappy a teacher Snape
was in those Occlumency lessons, I know now that he wasn't
trying to set me up for Voldemort. And I know that there
was never any good excuse for invading his privacy." Etc.

Yep, Harry might well realize that while Snape was mean
and unfair based on Harry's resemblance to James, Snape
was also RIGHT about many of Harry's actions. And since
Harry *is* the better man than Snape (and than Dumbledore
IMO, though that's irrelevant!), he would rightly realize
that he did nothing to improve the situation between
himself and Snape, and even did some things that made
the situation worse.

So, with that acceptance of his own mistakes, and his 
better understanding of Snape's motives and remorse, 
and his gratitude for Snape's personal sacrifices--up
to and including his life--all in the name of his love
for Harry's mother, would this be enough for Harry to
name his second son Albus *Severus* in memory of Snape?

I think so.

Julie