JKR confirms again: Snape is a hero

[dkewpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 173782


at Bloomsbury live chat:


Lechicaneuronline: Do you think snape is a hero

J.K.
Rowling: Yes, I do; though a very flawed hero. An anti-hero, perhaps.
He is not a particularly likeable man in many ways. He remains rather
cruel, a bully, riddled with bitterness and insecurity - and yet he
loved, and showed loyalty to that love and, ultimately, laid down his
life because of it. That's pretty heroic!

THANK YOU JKR!:D


other Snape-related questions:

Laura Trego: Was the absence of snapes portrait in the headmasters office in the last scene innocent or deliberate

J.K.
Rowling: It was deliberate. Snape had effectively abandoned his post
before dying, so he had not merited inclusion in these august circles.
However, I like to think that Harry would be instrumental in ensuring
that Snape's portrait would appear there in due course.

Jaclyn: Did lily ever have feelings back for snape

J.K. Rowling:
Yes. She might even have grown to love him romantically (she certainly
loved him as a friend) if he had not loved Dark Magic so much, and been
drawn to such loathesome people and acts.

Annie: Does the wizarding world now know that snape was dumbledores man, or do they still think he did a bunk

J.K.
Rowling: Harry would ensure that Snape's heroism was known.Of course,
that would not stop Rita Skeeter writing 'Snape: Scoundrel or Saint?'

Nithya: Lily detested mulciber,averyif snape really loved her,why didnt he sacrifice their company for her sake

J.K.
Rowling: Well, that is Snape's tragedy. Given his time over again he
would not have become a Death Eater, but like many insecure, vulnerable
people (like Wormtail) he craved membership of something big and
powerful, something impressive.He wanted Lily and he wanted Mulciber
too. He never really understood Lily's aversion; he was so blinded by
his attraction to the dark side he thought she would find him
impressive if he became a real Death Eater.

on Harry's crucio:
Barbara: I was very disappointed to see harry use crucio and seem to
enjoy it his failure to perform that kind of curse in the past has been
a credit to his character why the change, and did harry later regret
having enjoyed deliberately causing pain

J.K. Rowling: Harry is
not, and never has been, a saint. Like Snape, he is flawed and
mortal.Harry's faults are primarily anger and occasional arrogance.On
this occasion, he is very angry and acts accordingly. He is also in an
extreme situation, and attempting to defend somebody very good against
a violent and murderous opponent.

Rachel Nell: Jkr, thank you for such amazing books! I would like to
know how come noone seemed to know that lily and snape were friends in
school they were obviously meeting for chats, etc didnt james know
their past

J.K. Rowling: Thank you for your thank you!Yes, it
was known that they were friendly and then stopped being friends.
Nothing more than that would be widely known.James always suspected
Snape harboured deeper feelings for Lily, which was a factor in James'
behaviour to Snape.


Hannah: Why was snape so badly groomed

J.K. Rowling: Hmm. Good
question. Poor eyesight? Did he look in the mirror and believe he was
gorgeous as he was?I think it more likely that he valued other
qualities in himself!


Samantha: Was snape the only death eater who could produce a full patronus

J.K.
Rowling: Yes, because a Patronus is used against things that the Death
Eaters generally generate, or fight alongside. They would not need
Patronuses.

jenny: How did snape keep his patronus secret from the rest of the order?

J.K.
Rowling: He was careful not to use the talking Patronus means of
communication with them. This was not difficult, as his particular job
within the Order, ie, as spy, meant that sending a Patronus to any of
them might have given away his true allegiance.


Lou: How did snape get into grimmauld place to get the second half of
the letter, if there were protection spells on the house stopping snape
getting in

J.K. Rowling: Snape entered the house immediately after Dumbledore's death, before Moody put up the spells against him.


You can read the entire transcript here:
http://community.livejournal.com/spoil_me_dh/479109.html?style=mine#cutid1



Jo