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

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 174020


Carol:

Snape redeems himself,
> expiating his sins, whether Harry acknowledges that or not. I agree
> that Snape has *earned* his redemption, but it's important for
Harry
> to see that.

Redeems himself?  Hmmm, I'd have to say no, NO, and H@!! NO to that 
one.  In fact he explicitly condemns himself in his admission that he 
does not care for Harry, and the implication is that he is not in the 
least sorry for his years of child abuse.  Now, that is not to say he 
isn't forgiven -- obviously he is.  But forgiving people especially 
people who don't deserve it and haven't redeemed themselves -- and I 
don't think for one moment that Snape has redeemed himself from his 
abuse of Harry, nor does he deserve forgiveness -- is what Christ-
figures do.  In fact, under at some understandings of what a Christ-
figure is, the concept of redeeming oneself is rather a dangerous 
idea.  


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman" 
<susiequsie23 at ...> wrote:

> 
> 
> SSSusan:

> 
> 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 know what you're saying about DD, and that might well have been 
his 
> intention or his hope.  But I don't think there was a chance in 
hell 
> of its ever having played out that way.  
> 

Well, this gets us into the extremely thorny issue of Dumbledore's 
character (and I know he's another figure who many feel doesn't 
deserve forgiveness but receives it anyway).  But let's think of this 
for a bit in the light of what we've seen, and been told, of 
Dumbledore.

JKR has said (if you believe that what she says means anything, we 
have to add these days) that Dumbledore makes emotional mistakes 
despite being extremely intelligent.  She has said he especially did 
so in OOTP.  I, for one, have always been a little vague about 
exactly what she included in DD's emotional mistakes, other than not 
telling Harry the truth about the prophecy (if what he said in OOTP 
was even the truth about THAT, as he appears to contradict himself in 
HBP and then to make yet ANOTHER turn in DH).

But, to stay on subject, in OOTP Dumbledore said he had Snape do the 
Occlumency lessons because he thought that Snape could overcome his 
feelings about James.  Now, let's grant for the moment he was telling 
the truth (which has been revealed to be a dangerous assumption, I 
know).  This would seem to indicate that Dumbledore at least thought 
Snape had the potential to move in the direction we have outlined in 
this thread.

The question is, WHY?  What could lead Dumbledore so far astray as to 
think that, contrary to all evidence and years of abuse, Snape could 
put aside his feelings about James?

I would suggest two things.  One is that Dumbledore admittedly has, 
at the very least, strong favorable feelings where Harry is 
concerned.  He also seemed extremely dismissive of Snapey-poo's 
initial complaints about Harry ("you see what you expect, etc.).  It 
could be that he overestimated the obvious appeal of Harry's 
character while underestimating Snape's stubborness.  We also have to 
remember that his relationship with Snape is mostly brisk and mostly 
businesslike.  He may simply have thought "okay, time for Severus to 
get over it, we don't have time for this foolishness, anymore."

To put a more positive spin on Dumbledore's approach, it is to be 
remembered that the Occlumency episode comes a year or so after DD's 
backhanded compliment concerning Snape's bravery ("we sort too 
soon...").  He may be thinking that Snape has proven himself brave -- 
brave enough, surely, to face the truth about Harry.

One of Dumbledore's emotinal mistakes?  Maybe.  It would certainly 
fit the bill.


Lupinlore