Snape really was a Good Guy - Canon in the House

[suehpfan1]

No: HPFGUIDX 174404

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "horridporrid03" 
<horridporrid03 at ...> wrote:
>
> Snip of Chuck's post> 
> Betsy Hp:
> The problem I have (and the reason I so deeply dislike DH and the 
> entire series now) is that I think DH *removed* a lot of Snape's 
> complexity.  You're correct that it was only Snape's one-sided and 
> slavish love for Lily that caused him to work for Dumbledore.  And 
> that's because he's Slytherin.
> 
> As per the books, Slytherins are bad.  They cannot achieve true 
> goodness no matter how they try.  Which, in an odd and rather 
> despicable way (IMO), gives Snape an out.  Of *course* he was 
nasty 
> to Harry.  Of *course* he joined the Death Eaters.  Of *course* 
his 
> one and only reason for putting himself under Dumbledore's 
complete 
> control was a sad and twisted love.  He's Slytherin.  His fate was 
> determined as soon as the Hat called out his House.
> 
> It's a cold and depressing way of looking at life but it's what 
JKR 
> wrote.
> snip of the rest of Chuck and Betsy's posts

Sue(hpfan) venturing out of lurkdum and ducking blows.

I think the most fundamental question is whether the house defines 
the person or the people in the house define the house.  I tend to 
think it is the latter.  Remember, Slughorn and other Slytherin's 
came back into the castle to fight the DE's.  It is, IMO, over 
simplifying every character in the book to look only at their house 
designation.  Like Draco and many others, Snape wanted to be a 
Slytherin.  JKR said in a post book interview that he saw himself, 
and believed that Lily would see him, as impressive for joining the 
DE's.  Not every Slytherin was a DE and not every Gryffindor brave 
and loyal.  It is convenient to ignore Pettigrew and frankly, James 
and Serius as well when taking this stance.  Remember, also, that 
had Snape chosen to show any affection for Harry he would have put 
his status as a spy in jeopardy.  It is also pretty clear that 
Voldemort would have seen love for anyone as weakness and would have 
made it impossible for Snape to stay in the inner circle.

It is a story, well told, IMO and will really meet the needs of only 
the author.  Some of us will love it and others not, but in the end 
it is her's to tell.  Harry chose Gryffindor, Snape could have made 
the same choice as anyone under the hat could.  Self fulfilling 
profecy to be sure, but a choice all the same.

Sue(hpfan) heading back to the Hog's head.