Snape really was a Good Guy - Canon in the House

[Katie]

No: HPFGUIDX 174354

I just finished reading DH for the third time. On this reread, I 
found a lot more evidence that Snape had really turned around and 
wasn't just Lily's lovesick puppy anymore. First, let me say that I 
was very disappointed in the characterization of Snape throughout DH, 
after the tantalizing end of HBP. I expected to see a lot of Snape in 
this book, and I expected a reconciliation between him and 
Harry...obviously, I was quite wrong.

On my first read, I was very upset that Snape's character had been 
reduced to Lily's puppy and Dumbledore's stooge. Snape has pretty 
much been my favorite adult character throughout the series and I 
expected more complexity and resolution for him in this book. On my 
first few reads, I really didn't get anything more than: Snape loves 
Lily, Snape hates Harry, Snape fears both Dumbledore and Voldy, Snape 
does what he's told. This reduced him to a big stinker in my eyes, 
but I felt like there was more...I felt like there must have been a 
sea change at some point along the way that turned Snape into a real 
good guy. Maybe I'm grasping at straws because I hated seeing him 
reduced to what he was reduced to, but...

I do have some canon to back me up.

  DH, US version, page 681: After Snape has trapped the curse of      
Gaunt's ring in DD's hand...
"I am fortunate, extremely fortunate, that I have you, Severus."
"If only you had summoned me a little earlier, i might have been able 
to do more, buy you more time!" said Snape furiously.

***To me, this reaction speaks of true caring, not of a servant, but 
of a friend, knowing that a good man is now dying. This reaction was 
that of the Snape that I thought I knew through 6 books.***

DH, US version, page 687: After Dumbledore has told him Harry will 
probably die defeating Voldy...
  Dumbledore opened his eyes. Snape looked horrified.
"You have kept him alive so he can die at the right moment?"
"Don't be shocked, Severus. How many men and women have you watched 
die?"
"Lately, only those whom I could not save," said Snape. He stood 
up, "You have used me."

***Snape is not horrified because of anything having to do with Lily. 
He is horrified because a teenaged boy is about to be sacrificed 
without his knowledge or intent and Snape feels like he has had a 
hand in that. He is horrified that Dumbledore could plan such a 
thing. This is a person, at this point, who has morality not based on 
obsessive love of a dead woman, but based on a sense of what is right 
and wrong. 

Also, saving people? He hasn't been saving people for Lily - he's 
been saving people because it's right. He has changed into a 
different person - the Snape I believed him to be - not a "nice" man, 
certainly, but a good man. 

I realize that a few lines after this exchange, he claims he doesn't 
care for Harry at all and that he has only been a good guy because of 
Lily...and I know JKR herself says and believes this. But her own 
words, coming from Snape's mouth, belie this interpretation. If all 
Snape wanted to do was keep Lily's son safe, he wold not be saving 
other people and possibly putting his cover and his life in danger. 
Whether Snape and JKR believe it or not, the guy has changed.***

And finally: DH, Us version, 689: Phineas Nigellus is speaking first.

"Headmaster! They are camping in the Forest of Dean! The Mudblood - "
"Do not use that word!"
" - the Granger girl, then, mentioned the place as she opened the bag 
and I heard her."

***Now, many may argue that the use of the word Mudblood upsets Snape 
simply because of the memory associated with Lily, and that is 
certainly one interpretation. However, I feel that while that memory 
may be the satrting point, Snape is truly offended by that word. He 
doesn't have the same feeling, if he EVER did, of the other pureblood 
nasties. I think he regrets that moment with Lily so much because he 
lost his best friend over something that he really didn't even 
believe that strongly. He hung with a bad crowd, and they influenced 
his behavior and choices. I don't think Snape really believed all 
that crap.***


There's the end of my canon-based argument about Snape's moral and 
emotional maturation. But I really think, while it certainly started 
with Lily, it did not end there. He became a different, and better, 
person...whether his creator believes that or not.

(BTW, not flaming on Jo - I love the book and have been a big 
defender of it - I just  think she didn't understand Snape all that 
well. She created him, and he stole the show. But still lovin' on JK!)

Cheers, Katie