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

[Barbara Key]

No: HPFGUIDX 173965

SSSusan:
> Heck yes, the ending would've been different if
> Snape had done this! But I'm not at all sure that Snape ever could 
> have shown more of himself to Harry until the very end.  Can anyone
> actually imagine him able to do so?
> 
> He *might* have been able to get to know Harry
> better, I suppose... but was he capable?  Was he in control of 
> himself (his emotions, his bitterness & resentment, his responses 
> to each of the Potters) enough to make the effort?  I doubt it.  


I believe a lot of the problem lies with the fact that
Harry is James Potter's son. Snape hated James (and as
we can see, with good reason - put blond hair on James
and he could have been another early Draco). If Lily
had fallen in love and married Frank Longbottom, then I
don't think Snape would have been as negative toward
Harry.

Every day, he had to look at the face of one of his
main tormentors and the eyes of the woman he loved. He
had to protect the boy and teach the boy and never let
any DE know that he was doing it. 

In the first potions lessons in book one, when Neville
makes a mistake about quills in his potion, Snape
blames Harry for thinking that it would be a fun joke
on Neville to encourage him to put in the wrong
things. That is very unfair to Harry, but it something
that James would have done. 

Snape could not get past what the treatment the James
and the others (aka "the gang of four") did to him.

In a way, it is the same with Kreacher. Those who
treated him kindly, he loved and protected and
fought.

Which is a way of saying that Karma will bite you.
Treat someone meanly and it will come back at you.
Treat someone with respect and kindness and that will
be repaid with kindness and respect.

Barbara (YMMV)