Of Sorting and Snape

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 175370

lizzyben:
> > I just meant that in the
> > "Prince's Tale" chapter, every one of Snape's childhood memories 
> > shows him doing something "bad" - from the nine-year old 
> > dropping a branch on Petunia, to insulting Muggles, to defending 
> > future Death Eaters. It's one of the places where I could almost 
> > here the Author's Voice in the background saying "See, see, he 
> > was a bad kid from the get-go!" 

zgirnius:
> I loved that about the memories, myself. My very favorite being 
> the inclusion of Snape's first meeting with Dumbledore. Yeah, Sev, 
> way to convince Harry you're a good guy - feature that scene where 
> Dumbledore is disgusted with you because you could not care less 
> about James and Harry.
> 
> If Rowling intended the inclusion of the 'bad' elements to be a 
> turn-off, she failed with me. The memories have a confessional 
> sort of nature (they are far more information than Harry needs, 
> and they tell the story of Snape's life, really). And that they do 
> not show Snape in a completely perfect light makes them seem 
> honest. Presumably those memories, warts and all, were chosen 
> within the story *by Snape*, whatever reasons Rowling had for 
> writing them.


SSSusan:
Wow.  I hadn't even *noticed* that every one of the memories showed 
Snape doing something 'bad.'  So if JKR's intention was to say "See! 
See!" and to forestall sympathy for Severus, it didn't work for me 
that way either.  In fact, I do NOT believe that was her intention 
at all.

I felt quite similarly about the memories Snape chose & gave to 
Harry as Zara did.  To me, they were Truly. A. Gift.  As you said, 
Zara, they showed it ALL.  They did provide more information than 
Harry 'needed,' and yet Snape gave the whole picture.  The whole 
honest picture.  Why?  

I think, first, because he knew it would make it all more 
understandable to Harry.  Snape was giving Harry his most private 
memories, allowing him to see himself in some very, very vulnerable 
moments.  Yeah, so he was dying and wouldn't have to see Harry 
again, but it still took tremendous courage, imo, to give Harry that 
*total* picture.  

Doing so made the whole thing more powerful for Harry, I think... 
made it much more likely that Harry wouldn't resist it, wouldn't 
question Snape's version of things.  If he had *not* included all 
the past Lily stuff, all the way back to pre-Hogwarts, all the 
student days stuff, but only gave Harry the conversations with DD, 
would Harry have trusted and believed?  He would have been stunned, 
but I can imagine him having been confused and skeptical AND hanging 
on to his typical pattern of responding to Snape or allegations 
about Snape's loyalty.  

With Snape giving Harry so much -- so much more than he 'had' to -- 
he gave Harry the full story, the truth, something that Harry had 
been **craving** throughout the story.  It's part of why Harry was 
so angry with DD -- all those things DD did not share, did not show 
or tell him about, the truth lacking parts of itself.  But here was 
Snape, of all people, giving Harry All Of It. 

To me, it was a stunning moment, this gift of the full background, 
this most difficult gift to give, revealing those things which had 
been hidden from all to the person to whom it was most difficult to 
allow to see.  It was amazing.  

Which would probably mean I could cross-post this in Potioncat's One 
Moment thread. ;-)

Siriusly Snapey Susan