DH Thoughts

[fitzchivalryhk]

No: HPFGUIDX 172602

lupinlore:
> Sorry, I don't buy for one minute that DD had a loving,
> paternal relationship with Snape, or that Snape regarded
> Dumbledore as an archon of light and goodness that he
> followed as the way to general moral redemption.
> You are right that Dumbledore feels pity and compassion
> for Snape, as shown in the episode with the doe. This in
> no way negates the other aspects of this layered and deep
> relationship -- a relationship that resists being reduced
> to a simple positive reading, or indeed a totally negative
> one.

fitz:
Actually, I partly agree with your interpretation on Snape /
Dumbledore relationship, that it is multi-layered and not as
loving as that of the one between Harry and Dumbledore. However,
I do not think this can be reduced into a "simple negative" one
as well. The evidence you and Leslie provided above shows that
there is affection and caring between Snape and Dumbledore, as
well as manipulation and calculation. Yet, is it that much
different from the way Dumbledore treat Harry?  Remember,
Dumbledore was not entirely sure if Harry will survive after
he willingly let himself be killed by Voldemort, but he had
no hesitation in pushing Harry to face Voldy. Does this mean
Dumbledore has no love for Harry as well?

Dumbledore is just a ruthless general. No matter how much he
loves someone (even himself), he is still ready to sacrifice
that person for "the greater good".

lupinlore:
> Absolutely!  Snape's fate is satisfying and fits well with the
> demands of moral and karmic justice. The multiple levels of
> irony that fold around it make it all the more satisfying and
> amusing.
> Lupinlore, who chuckles every time he rereads the Snape /
> Dumbledore interactions in DH and says to all of those who
> find Dumbledore to be a jerk -- "YES!  And Snape richly
> deserves every jibe and criticism."

fitz:
Delighting in the agony of others, and approval in the ruthless
use of one human as a pig for slaughter, as long as they deserve
it. Now I see why Umbridge can be so self-righteous when she's
ordered Harry to use the self-cutting quill on himself, because
in her opinion, Harry deserved it.