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

[lizzyben04]

No: HPFGUIDX 170791

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214"
<dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:
>
> > lizzyben:
> > Does he bind & gag Sirius? Personally, I don't think he did. Sure, 
> > he tells Fudge he did, because he knows that he should have. But 
> > when Harry & Hermione observe him, all they see is Snape lifting 
> > their bodies onto stretchers, and taking them to the castle. 
> <SNIP>
> 
> > Alla:
> 
> I do not know what to say. Literally. I guess when Snape shows >
himself in worse light, it is not to be believed? When he says he 
> gagged unconscious Sirius, it really did not happen?
> 

lizzyben:

That's what I'm saying. We know that there is often a big difference
between what Snape says & what Snape does. In this case, we don't have
to rely on what Snape says happened. We have 2 first-hand witnesses of
the events: time-turned Harry & Hermione.

POA page 301:
"'I don't know - Harry, look at Snape!'
Together they peered around the bush at the other bank. Snape had
regained consciousness. He 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 towards the castle."

Harry doesn't see Snape bind or gag Sirius. Instead, he sees Snape
first taking care of Ron (the most injured person), before lifting the
others into stretchers & walking away. That's a complete rendition of
the events. 

Snape didn't bind Sirius while H&H were watching. Personally, I
believe this is because Snape was in "triage mode", and was more
worried about the injured students than vengeance on Black.
Unconscious, Black was not an immediate threat, but another injured
person who needed treatment. Now, I'm willing to believe that Snape
bound Sirius later, but there does seem to be a conflict between
Snape's version of events & the actual events. Ironically, Snape's
own words makes him seem much harsher than the reality. This is par
for the course for Snape. 

 
> Lizzyben04:
> <SNIP>
>  He didn't see Sirius, 
> > a man he loathes, but an unconscious, injured person who needed 
> > help. In situations like this, it seems like Snape's healing 
> > instinct/training snaps into place. The pettiness & hostility take 
> > over later. :) 
> <SNIP>
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> What help? How was Snape helping Sirius? I snipped part about Ron, 
> because I see no significance in Snape putting Ron on stretchers 
> first. IMO.


lizzyben:

He was helping by taking an unconscious Sirius (and children) to the
hospital, and away from rampaging Dementors & werewolves. It is
significant that he takes care of Ron first, because it shows he was
mostly thinking about treating injured people, rather than getting
revenge at that point.

> Alla:
> 
> I love House, but I see House as so much more human than Snape ever 
> be. IMO of course :)

lizzyben: 

Oh yeah? Imagine brilliant House, MD after being forced to teach
elementary school kids for ten years - Snape looks tame in comparison!
There are so many places where Snape acts like a doctor, or a
"healer", that I do believe it is an intrinsic part of Snape's
character. JKR's husband is a doctor & I think she incorporates some
of that into the novels. And, consistently, Snape is the character who
heals, mends, and provides medicine to injured or ill people in the
Potterverse. Snape, MD. 


> > Lanval:
> <SNIP>
> > I still can't blame Sirius too much for bumping Snape's head after 
> > knowing what Snape had in mind for him, and it's not as if Snape 
> > suffered any major damage.
> 
> > Sirius was delivering Snape to the safety of his cosy little 
> dungeon 
> > home, letting his head bump against a dirt ceiling a few times. 
> > 
> > Snape was delivering a potentially innocent Sirius to the 
> > executioner, bound and gagged. On a nice comfortable stretcher, to 
> > be sure. Then he gloated about it, and then he threw a fit when it 
> > didn't happen.
> 

lizzyben:

Well, it shows that Sirius wasn't taking care of his patient. Snape
was in his care & control at that time & he abused it. Harry thinks
that Sirius is bumping Snape's head on purpose - and this is a man who
already has a concussion. Snape is much more professional &
responsible in how he treats the injured people in his care. 

And there's one other parallel I want to mention. Both Snape & Harry
are confronted with the same choice: should they exact vengeance or
wait for justice? Harry knew that Pettigrew had killed twelve people,
and betrayed his parents. Yet still, he doesn't allow Lupin & Sirius
to kill him, but insists that Pettigrew be brought back to the castle
alive - then, he says, the Dementors can have him. 

Next chapter, Snape wakes up to find Black, who he believes killed 12
people & betrayed the Potters, unconscious at his feet. He could have
killed him, or abandoned him, or called the Dementors, and nobody
would have blamed him. Instead, Snape decides to take Black back to
the castle alive, and conjures stretchers to safely transport him. He
does this knowing that the man will most likely be executed later on.
But in that moment, Snape chooses justice over vengeance. He chooses
to bring Black to the authorities rather than taking the law into his
own hands. Harry also decides to take a murderer back to the castle to
face justice. DD praises Harry's decision as an act of mercy and
compassion; he tells Harry that he has saved Pettigrew's life. By
taking Sirius back to the castle, Snape also showed mercy & saved
Sirius' life. 

Both Harry & Snape chose to abide by the law. Neither of them get the
justice they were seeking in the end; both "murderers" escape. But
that doesn't change the fact that, given the choice, Snape & Harry
chose to bring an enemy to justice rather than using violence or
murder against them. They both perform an act of mercy.
Snape doesn't think he won. But I do. He made the moral choice at a
critical juncture.

lizzyben