Potter's Teacher's Edition

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 175583

Betsy Hp wrote:
> <snip> Harry and Snape have had a relationship for six books and I'm
supposed to be satisfied at the climax of the relationship with some
wimpy stand-ins? <snip> If JKR wasn't wanting to deal with the
relationship she created between Harry and Snape, she shouldn't have
written it in the first place.

Carol responds:
The problem, I think is that JKR wants a reversal/recognition scene
near the end of the book in which Harry has an epiphany about Snape
that not only enables him to understand Snape but allows him to make
the love-based self-sacrifice that would not have been possible had he
still hated and sought vengeance against Snape. At the same time, the
scene enables Snape to perform one last amazing feat for the good side
and die (IMO) redeemed.

To set up such a scene, she can only give us glimpses of Snape, one
big scene in which he appears to be evil and bits and pieces (clues
like the "terrible" detention with Hagrid and red herrings like
George's ear). We also see his DADA skills (defensive magic and,
whoop! the ability to fly) in the scene with ESS (Ever so Deluded)
McGonagall. But Harry can't see what Snape is really doing at
Hogwarts. He can only misinterpret it as Snape supporting rather than
undermining the Carrows and LV. Harry's stated intention of wanting
nothing more than to meet Snape and, he thinks, beat him in a duel or
even kill him, and his view of Snape as the snake on the tower whose
crimes (the eavesdropping and the "murder" of Dumbledore) are somehow
on the same level as Voldemort's, is reinforced by Harry's isolation
from Hogwarts. The overheard conversations serve, as always, as
misdirection, to reinforce Harry's wrong-headed view of snape, shared
by Hermione and Ron (and Flitwick and McGonagall). His one close
encounter with Snape before Snape's death is also filtered by the view
that Snape is Voldemort's man.

Harry's horror and shock at Snape's death and his willingness to
collect the memories and look into Snape's eyes, fulfilling Snape's
last request (whatever the reason for it) is a huge step forward for
Harry, who until that moment had wanted to kill Snape and still thinks
that he hates him (though perhaps that hatred is tinged at last, and
too late, with something like compassion or pity; cf. his feeling for
Draco after the events on the Astronomy tower in HBP). And by the time
he finishes seeing the "truth" in the Pensieve, the hatred is wholly
gone, replaced by understanding. His public vindication of the
once-hated Snape was one of my hurrah! moments, and his naming of his
second son Albus Severus was my favorite moment of all.

A scene in which Harry actually talked to Snape, still hating him and
seeing him as DD's murderer, is simply unrealistic. Snape would
probably have had to lure him with the doe Patronus, extremely
dangerous given all the DEs on the scene, tied him up and forced him
to listen. Would Harry have believed him? I think not.

Much as I'd rather have had Snape convince Harry of his loyalty to DD
and go out heroically defeating Bellatrix or killing Nagini or even
surviving the battle, that's not the story JKR had to tell, and it
probably wouldn't have been as effective. (Neville killing Nagini was
another of my hurrah! moments).

The relationship between Harry and Snape comes full circle in DH, with
Snape briefly seeing Lily rather than James in Harry's eyes (before,
all he's seen is arrogance and rule-breaking and lies) and Harry at
last understanding Snape. It's unrealistic to expect them to be
friends, and Snape *was* a very important ally to Harry though Harry
didn't know it, providing hope and help and a weapon to destroy the
locket Horcrux. They couldn't have obtained the cup Horcrux without
the Sword of Gryffindor, either. And Snape's last message to Harry
makes the destruction of the scar Horcrux possible. And, of course, he
Confunds Mundungus to plant the poly-juiced Potters idea, without
which Harry would assuredly be dead.

Snape alone of the adults in the Order gives Harry truly indispensable
help in the Horcrux hunt and he, along with the others, helps to save
Harry's life (and the ungrateful Lupin's) in the escape from 4 Privet
Drive.

He may be off-page for most of the book, but he's the man.

> Betsy Hp:
> A scene where Harry is humbled would have been nice.

Carol:
How about a scene in which he faces a death in which he can't fight
back, along with his own insecurities and doubts about Dumbledore
("the Forest Again")?

Or if you just want to see Snape beat the pants off Harry, showing off
his Legilimency and reflexes and DADA skills and nonverbal spells, may
I recommend "The Flight of the Prince"? We already know that Snape can
outduel Harry any day of the week. We don't need to see that again.
What we need to see, and get to see, is Harry at last understanding
Snape, empathizing with his neglected childhood and admiring his
courage, acknowledging his love (not desire) for Harry's mother, his
loyalty to Dumbledore, and his opposition to LV.

Carol, hoping that Betsy can bring herself to reread the book and
noting that it's a very different experience the second (or third)
time around than it was the first time