Snape's the Rescuer - Really?/Justice to Snape

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 170747

Alla wrote:

> > > Ah, but you see, sure, if Harry witnessed Snape putting them on
stretchers, sure, I would have considered to be a positive moment of
Snape character no matter how much I hate him.
> > 
Julie:
> > I'm confused. Harry *did* witness Snape putting Sirius, Harry, 
and Hermione on stretchers. POA page 412: As Time-turned Harry
> > and Hermione watch "He [Snape] was conjuring stretchers and
> > lifting the limp forms of Harry, Hermione and Black onto them.
> > A fourth stretcher, no doubt bearing Ron, was already floating
> > at his side. Then, wand held out in front of him, he moved
> > them away toward the castle."
> > 
> > So do you mean something else? Or do you now think this was
> > a positive moment for Snape? 
> <SNIP>
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Yes, I know, I was talking hypothetically and obviously not clearly 
> expressing myself.
> 
> I was saying that if Snape was only putting kids on stretchers in 
> some sort of hypothetical story, then I would believe that it was a 
> positive character moment.
> 
> Does it make sense?  Right now I do not believe that Snape was 
> concerned about kids and think that he put them on the stretchers as 
> afterthought of the sort and to show off to Dumbledore - just look 
> at me, not only I bring Black to be kissed **on stretchers**, but I 
> also bring little brats back **on stretchers**.
> 
> JMO,
> 
> Alla.
>

Carol responds:
It can't be an afterthought. Ron, who was with Snape outside the
Shrieking Shack, is already on a stretcher before Snape reaches the
kids. And note the order in which the names are mentioned: Harry,
Hermione, and Black. It sounds to me as if he gave his attention to
the kids first and then to Black.

Also, as Montavilla mentioned, the gag would have had to be removed
before the Dementors could suck Black's soul. It sounds to me as if
Snape did everything that any responsible teacher, including
McGonagall or Dumbledore himself, would have done in his position,
assuming that he still truly believed Black to be a murderer.

And as Julie pointed out, Harry *did* witness that moment and said
nothing. His anger is at Snape for entering the Shack in the first
place and picking up the Invisibility Cloak, not for conjuring the
stretchers, which even he apparently understands was necessary to
their survival. I don't see why you would judge a hypothetical moment
when he conjured stretchers as favorable to Snape's character but
reverse that judgment because he also conjures a stretcher for Sirius
Black (and binds the murderer for safekeeping). Can the gag alone make
that much difference in your view? Black would have gagged him had
their places been reversed, I'm sure, as indicated by his
irresponsible carelessness in letting Snape's head bump the ceiling of
the tunnel.

Carol, who thinks that had *any* other teacher Snape done what Snape
did, that person would have been praised without question for behaving
responsibly and putting the kids' safety above all other considerations