On the perfection of moral virtues.

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 168842

Carol earlier:
> > Harry violated Snape's trust and privacy by entering the Pensieve.
> > While you may think that Snape's words and actions are more
harmful than that particular bit of irresponsibility, I'm afraid that
not everyone shares your view.
> <snip>
> 
> Quick_Silver:
> But should Harry really apologize for his little dive into Snape's 
> memories? 
> 
> I mean leaving aside the plot and character reasons for that chapter 
> Harry learns and sees some very important lessons from those 
> memories. It casts doubt on his idolization of his father and Sirius 
> for the first time and shows that Snape wasn't lying when he said 
> that James was arrogant. It hinted that there may have been
something between Snape and Lily and further highlighted Lupin's
weakness and the depravity of Peter. 
<snip>
> 
> In many ways I view that scene like Harry finding out that Snape was 
> the spy that heard the prophecy
Dumbledore and Snape were right to 
> keep the information from Harry but I think in the long run it's 
> better for Harry and Harry's relationship with Snape if Harry knows.  
> 
> I think that Harry should take responsibility for the Pensieve dive 
> but apologize? How can you be sorry about doing something that
helped you reconcile with Snape to begin with?

Carol responds:
That's not what I meant, exactly. Lupinlore was implying that Harry
had never done anything that Snape needed to forgive, and I was citing
that incident as an example. IMO, Harry was wrong to invade Snape's
privacy, whether or not good came out of wrongdoing (as it often does
in the books, unintended consequences being a recurring motif).
Unintended consequences don't make an action right or wrong, any more
than Wormtails' escape makes it wrong for Harry to have prevented his
murder. I agree that, in the long run, it was good *for Harry* to
enter the Pensieve and to see his father as Snape sees him. That
doesn't make the experience any less painful for Snape, or make
Harry's intrusion enter a memory specifically removed from Snape's
head any less a violation of Snape's privacy.)

I wasn't suggesting that Harry apologize to Snape. It's too late for
that, in any case. I'm just saying that Snape has almost as much to
forgive Harry for--looking only at the teacher/student relationship
and not at Snape's DE past or the eavesdropping or the killing of
Dumbledore) as Harry has to forgive Snape for. And all of the sarcasm
and point-docking pales, IMO, in comparison with the many times that
Snape has risked his life for Dumbledore or protected Harry from harm
or death.

BTW, I don't know why my fingers keep mixing up Dumbledore and
Voldemort when they type. Obviously, when I wrote, "DDM!Snape
certainly needs to realize that Harry, like it or not, is the only
Chosen One he's got, and he'd better help him if he wants Voldemort to
win," I meant something like "if he wants Dumbledore's side to win" or
"if he wants Voldemort to be defeated." Needless to say, DDM!Snape
doesn't want Voldemort to win.

Anyway, I agree with Julie that Harry must forgive Snape for *Harry's*
sake and because a desire for revenge is antithetical to the Love
magic required to defeat Voldemort. I also think that Snape will
contribute in some way to that defeat, so Snape and Harry have to come
to some sort of mutual understanding (with Harry, at least, forgiving
Snape and understanding how hard he's tried to undo his past mistakes
relating to the Prophecy) if Harry is to accept Snape's help. Remember
the satisfaction Snape seemed to feel in OoP when Harry realized that
"finding out what the Dark Lord is telling his Death Eaters" is
Snape's job (or part of it)?  I think that's all Snape wants from
Harry--recognition of his (Snape's) role in fighting the Dark Lord and
willingness to accept his help. And Snape has to accept Harry,
"mediocre" and rule-breaking and disrespectful as he may be, as the
Chosen One, the WW's only hope. Snape can help Harry if Harry will let
him, but he can't defeat Voldemort himself. ("Yes, Snape. That's my job.")

Carol, who was also pointing out exactly how much Harry owes to Snape
(Bezoars, Expelliarmus, his very life) and hoping that Harry will
realize all that before it's too late