[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape's the Rescuer - Really?/Justice to Snape

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 170652


Alla:

Okay, the explanation that Snape just did not understand the prophecy 
always amuses me a lot. Why, why would Snape think that Voldemort even
postpone hunting the prophecy couple? Did he ever show that he erm....
postpones hunting after his enemies?

Magpie:
I have to agree. I think it was more a case of Snape being okay with the
idea of Voldemort going out and killing somebody due to this information
(kid or adult) vs. the reality of the idea that Voldemort is going to kill
these people he's connected to and the different way that feels. It's like
Draco in terms of the idea in the abstract and the reality--though I think
they were probably facing slightly different revelations since they were
different people, and Snape was a little bit older.

Iow, I really think we'll just have to hear and judge for ourselves exactly
how Snape really felt about who the Prophecy turned out to be about
and--more importantly--how it changed his thinking on Voldemort (if it
did). That's the important thing for any DE who changes his mind, not just
why he doesn't like what's happened, but whether it really changes his
outlook in general.

Lanval:

Even Harry, who without thinking leaps toward transforming Lupin, to 
save his best friend Ron, but is held back by Sirius, IMO deserves 
more recognition for his actions than Snape.

Magpie:
I could be wrong, but what I get from Snape as "savior" here is not that he
was anywhere near the one most dramatically saving anyone, but that it's an
interesting moment where they see Snape, by himself, quietly conjuring
stretchers and bringing everyone back to the castle. Whether there was
really a werewolf in the vicinity isn't important, because for me the
significance isn't that anyone owes Snape their life. It's just that it's
JKR putting in a scene where Snape is shown caring for someone efficiently
and without much fanfare, and these things have always gone along with his
more memorable scenes of being casually cruel and petty and angry at people.

JKR could have had Harry and Hermione just waking up on their own outside
and wondering what happened, but there is something memorable about them
seeing that Snape did that. Not because it makes him a huge savior, but I
think if we wrote down everything we see Snape do we'd see a careful
balance that included a lot of examples of Snape taking care of stuff like
that--the most memorable and dramatic of which is in HBP when he heals
Draco. Harry and Hermione could very well have gotten back another way, but
it's intriguing they didn't.

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