[HPforGrownups] On Harry and Snape forgiveness, was: On the perfection of moral virtues

[Laurel Coates]

No: HPFGUIDX 168871

On 5/17/07, wynnleaf <fairwynn at hotmail.com> wrote:
wynnleaf:
On the one hand, I agree that Harry has a lot more reasons to hate
Snape than just sarcasm, insults, and point taking. Snape did take
the partial prophecy to Voldemort which, even if Snape didn't
realize that would bring about the Potter's death, did indeed lead
to Voldemort's killing them.

At the end of HBP, Harry also quite legitimately thinks that Snape
murdered Dumbledore in cold blood. So, until such time as he learns
otherwise, this is also a reason for Harry to hate Snape. If Harry
later learns that Snape's actions were justified, then this
particular reason for hating Snape is removed (imo).

Laurel:
One certainly could compare Snape to Judas. Judas betrayed Jesus, thus
ensuring, eventually, the Word to be spread to generations of people. It was
Snape's betrayal that caused the deaths of the Potters and Harry's injury,
but it also set the prophecy in play, thereby sealing Voldemort's doom. I
think that was what Dumbledore was trying to explain to Harry in his office
after they finally saw Slughorn's true memory.

HBP, page 510, Scholastic:

"If Voldemort had never heard of the prophecy, would it have been fulfilled,
would it have meant anything? Of course not! Do you think every prophecy in
the hall of prophecy has been fulfilled?"
....

"By attempting to kill you, Voldemort himself singled out the remarkable
person who sits here in front of me, and gave him the tools for the job!"

So I think Snape's role in revealing the prophecy should eventually be
forgiven; it was his role that eventually will cause the downfall of
Voldemort.

Laurel


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