Would Harry forgiving Snape be character growth for him? Re: CHAPDISC: HBP 29,

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 164121

Alla:
> I think that what Lily would have wanted may influence Harry
> decision very very strongly.  As in my mother sacrificed herself
> for me, she is basically a saint and if she saw something good in
> Snape, maybe I should see something good as well, you know? That
> kind of thing.

Jen: This is the key point for me even though so many good points 
have been made about forgiveness.  The plot is heading toward Harry 
finally learning about and connecting with Lily in a similar way to 
what happened with James in POA.  While Snape is part of that plot in 
my mind, I truly believe the more important story will be Harry and 
Lily:  Harry learning to see Snape through Lily's eyes, seeing the 
wizard world, even seeing Voldemort the way Lily did when begged him 
to 'have mercy'.  In that respect I don't see it being as crucial as 
others do that Snape be DDM in order for Harry to forgive him, the 
more important thing for Harry is what Barbara/va32h 
said: 'Forgiveness does not require Harry to like Snape or trust him, 
just to let go of the personal hatred for him.'

(I think there are other parts of the story that indicate we aren't 
headed in this direction, i.e. "I trust Severus Snape', so I'm 
answering only the hypothetical question.)
 
ibchwz:
> I believe that Dumbledore (it may have been someone else - correct
> me if I'm wrong) told Harry that it was often more difficult to 
> forgive someone for being right than for being wrong. This 
> discussion was focused on Percy Weasley reconciling with his 
> family, but could be foreshadowing a much larger "forgiveness for 
> being right". 

Jen:  Nice point.  I finally found the quote in HBP, thought it was 
OOTP: 'People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong 
than being right' (Chap. 5).  So to tie this back to the hypothetical 
situation, Harry forgiving an evil Snape seems even more possible in 
light of this canon and when you think about the concept in RL.  I 
could more easily imagine Harry forgiving a Snape whom he learned had 
a tragic backstory and turned out to be evil due in part to 
circumstance rather than a loyal Snape with the same tragic 
backstory.  Anyone think Snape is going to pass up the chance to 
needle Harry and take a poke at James if the time comes when Harry 
has to own up to being wrong about him? I sure don't!!!  People like 
that, who are *right* on top of it, are extremely hard to forgive. 

This is why I don't see the revelation of Snape's loyalty alone 
leading to a change of heart in Harry so much as the transformation 
that will take place when he finally reconnects with his the mother 
he once knew and lost, losing a piece of himself in the process.  
Snape is small potatoes compared to that. ;)

Jen