The picture of Lily and Harry

[colwilrin]

No: HPFGUIDX 175025

> McJuels:
> 
> I like this bit about "the comfort of Lily's forgiveness given to him 
> through her son."  This sounds as if Harry forgave Snape before he 
saw 
> the memories.  Do you think that's true?
>

Colwilrin:

This scene is very interesting.  Knowing how Harry felt about Snape at 
the beginning of the book...Harry's reactions are unexpected.  Harry 
did not rejoice that DD's killer was dying.  He did not recoil.  He 
came to Snape, and did what Snape was requesting without question or 
negative comment.  Though I would like to think that Harry did forgive 
him at that point, it is less important than it being the moment that 
Snape was atoning to Lily through Harry.  I think the scene is more 
about Snape asking for and receiving forgiveness from Lily...and 
pleading that he did his best to make up for his sins...than about 
Snape actually receiving forgiveness from Harry.  I picture his 
forgiveness from Lily being part of his dying process, as he is dying 
he is begging the forgiveness and the process of him receiving it 
begins as he passes to the other side...he undoubtedly received it 
fully on the other side, from Lily...and later from Harry as witnessed 
by Harry' comments to Albus Severus in the Epilogue.

It is very hard for me to describe this...the idea is one of a 
transfiguration as Snape passes from life to death to afterlife.  He 
sees Harry...but sees Lily as well.  I think it is a very complicated 
moment, which is made to be interpreted by each reader individually, 
based upon their own views of life, death and forgiveness.  

Just another thought...I also want to believe that part of this 
transfiguration was Snape finally forgiving himself...and hopefully in 
his last moments...he was no longer the tortured soul that so miserable 
roamed the halls of Hogwarts.

Well...I think I just about reached my posting limits for the day.  
Thanks for encouraging this interesting discussion of what I consider 
one of the most profound moments of the book.