Harry and Snape's Salvation (Re: No progress for Slytherin?)

[nrenka]

No: HPFGUIDX 173943

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jen Reese" <stevejjen at ...> wrote:


> Lupinlore: 
> > So, in that sense, Harry could be a savior to Snape in that he
> > offers an opportunity for salvation.  But, as shown in the scene
> > where Snape reveals his patronus, the damage and bitterness and
> > hate and cruelty run too deep for salvation.  Snape cannot find it
> > within himself to embrace the salvation Harry represents, and thus
> > it remains a door never opened.
> 
> Jen: And yet, that bitter person helped save Harry's life and defeat 
> Voldemort, thus saving thousands of lives.  It seems like Snape 
> would be a selfish to work on 'saving' himself when he can do more 
> trying to help Harry rid the world of the current evil. 

I don't see why it has to be an either/or situation.  For instance,
with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, I really do believe that
Dumbledore was setting up a situation for Harry and Snape to
understand each other better back in OotP.  Now, *if* Snape had been
able (or really wanted to, in my opinion) to deal with some of his
bitterness there, see who Harry actually is, ask him about his
reaction, etc. etc. etc. all of those things which would open the
door, the plot and especially the denoument of the book could have
been much different.  Arguably, Harry would have had more support and
Voldemort could have been fought more effectively earlier on.

-Nora pops in, pops out, sees another pile of things to catalog...