Closure for Harry & Snape

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 174478

--- Cat <cathio2002 at ...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> 
> ... But I felt somewhat unsatisfied with the closure 
> or lack of closure between Harry and Snape. I think 
> there should have been a scene where either Harry or 
> Snape or both apologized to the other, or perhaps JKR
> could have had a scene where they showed mutual respect
> for each other.
> 

bboyminn:

But how do you propose that come about? In my predictions
before DH came out, I said that there would have to be
some type of reconciliation between Harry and Snape.
Whether he knew it or not, Harry desperately needed
Snape's help, but what circumstances could possibly
occur, after what happened on the tower, that would
lead Harry to every trust Snape again?

Let's assume the story had played out differently. Let's
assume that Voldemort had allowed Snape to go and 
capture Harry. OK, now Snape has captured Harry and
he begins talking rapidly...I love your mother, she 
was my best friend ...you have to willingly let 
Voldemort kill you, offering no resistance of any
kind...etc.... Do you really think Harry would buy
that? Oh, sure, he would think, I just lay down
and die for Voldemort and everything will be fine --
NOT!

But, if this knowledge comes from Snape's unbiased 
mind and objective thoughts, rather than his mouth,
the ideas and concepts do have some credibility. I
can't think of any words Snape could have spoken
to win Harry over, I just can't. But again, thoughts
in the Penseive are completely objective. They show
reality just as it happened. Harry can trust those
thoughts. 


> Cat:
>
> For instance, when Harry goes into Dumbledore's office
> with Snape's memories and uses the pensive, I don't
> understand why she didn't mention Snape's portrait.
> ... Snape's should  have been there too since he was
> the headmaster. 

bboyminn:

But, was Snape /really/ a legitimate Headmaster, by
what authority was he appointed to the position? The
only authority I recognize is the Board of Governors,
and even if they cooperated, it would have been under
duress, coercion, threats, and possibly torture. That
doesn't make Snape very legitimate in my eyes.

Further, he was Headmaster for less than a year, and 
DID desert his post. 

I think Harry, at a later date, would have recognized
that Snape needed to be honored for the tremendous
risk he took to help Dumbledore, and would have 
worked to get Snape's portrait added, but I really 
don't see Snape as a legitimate Headmaster. 

True the office of Headmaster opened to him, but that 
might have been Dumbledore's doing. The 'Office' might
have understood Snape's true nature and intent, but
even if he was working for Dumbledore, that doesn't
mean he came across his office legitimately.


> Cat:
>
> Harry could have perhaps had a  conversation with him
> (in his portrait) after he'd seen all of Snape's 
> memories.
> 

bboyminn:

For this to work, it would have to occur /after/ Harry
found out he had to die at Voldemort's hand. A long
heart-to-heart at that moment would have seemed very
anti-climatic. It is enough that Harry continues to
honor Snape and recognize his effort, even to the 
opoint of naming one of his children after Snape. It
that doesn't constitute reconciliation, I don't know
what does.

Got to run.

Steve/bboyminn