Would Harry forgiving Snape be character growth for him? /Lupin's Loyalties

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 164219

> Magpie:
> It may seem like the right or wrong part is a bigger issue just
> because we've all become embroiled in a discussion about which one
> we think is better for the story.:-)

Jen: Yes, that could be it ;).  

Magpie:
> But even so, JKR has already emphasized it a great deal. Snape's a 
> big mystery character in canon with more things coming back to him
> without being revealed. The whole reveal of the first book is about
> Harry's being wrong about Snape being the bad guy, then we've got 
> books of Snape being a good guy but a rotten person who hates 
> Harry...and now he kills Dumbledore? I think that's an important 
> issue!

Jen: It *is* important, I think it's important too.  What I don't see 
is how either one benefits from being right in this situation.  
There's no victory in the scenario JKR has set up, there are no 
winners.  

If Harry is right and Snape is not trustworthy, then Harry loses 
because he won't be helped by Snape, the one man on the inside of 
Voldemort's camp who has both the power and the knowledge to make a 
big difference in bringing down Voldemort.  And Snape loses because 
he ruined his second chance or never took it seriously to begin with, 
not to mention he never fulfilled his potential as the HBP.

If Harry is wrong and Snape has been loyal all along, Snape still 
loses because while salvaging a bad situation he ripped his soul, 
killed his mentor and lost what life he'd put back together after 
being a DE.  His bitterness and resentment are even more pronounced 
since once again a Potter played a perceived role in his downfall.  
And what does he look forward to for his troubles?  A one-way ticket 
to Voldemort.  

Harry loses because he lost the 'last and greatest of his protectors' 
and will believe he weakened Dumbledore and contributed to his death 
by feeding him the potion (because that's how he *thinks*), he will 
have to live with yet one more person he loved dying in part to save 
him.  I can't see how the discovery that Snape AK'd Dumbledore to 
save him, Draco and the other students will lead to any great growth 
for Harry, just more hatred, guilt and sadness.

So one of them gets to be all alone in Rightsville.  The big 
revelation is both lost their way and allowed hatred and resentment 
to cloud their judgement and actions--where's the growth there? 
Where's a space for love in all this?

> Magpie:
> But that's part of it. There's gray and then there's black. Right
> now Harry's all about the black when it comes to Snape. There will
> be plenty of other things going on, but I think Snape's true story
> is going to be an important thing for Harry to deal with.

Jen: I'm with you here, and that's why I look to Lily at this point 
and hope that her story can somehow turn around what has happened 
between Snape and Harry.  Maybe if they can't see each other, can't 
find common ground, there will be a person who can bridge the gap for 
them in Lily.  *Then* I will feel JKR's theme of love has truly 
played a role in their relationship.