Severus Snape

[kimberleyelizabeth]

No: HPFGUIDX 178456

> zgirnius:
> <SNIP>
> Like Amanda, I agree that Snape was "one of the good guys". But I
> don't regret the time and effort Rowling spent on obfuscation to
hide
> this. Combing through the series to justify my own gut reaction to
> HBP (DDM!Snape) was great fun (and the reason I joined online
> fandom). And the utter lack of any recognition by other characters
on
> his side of his contributions to the struggle until the very end
when
> the truth was shown to us, is a part of the tragedy of this
character
> which, for me anyway, makes his story all the more moving and
> meaningful.


Hi Again
All this talk about Snape, one of my truly favorite characters.
Undoubtedly he is a VERY complicated man.  The same man who can
reduce Hermione (Neville, too) to tears calling her an insufferable
know-it-all (it's not Mudblood, but just because he chooses not to
say the word doesn't change his way of thinking.) is also the same
man, as pointed out, produces the Wolfsbane Potion for Lupin, someone
he clearly dislikes.  The same man whom DD trusts with his life is
the same man who can't put away his personal feelings to help Harry
learn occlumency. Instead sees Harry as an extention of James not
only in looks but attitude.  JKR calls him a truly horrible person
and yet is capable of love.  And loving someone he is brought up to
view as unworthy to like, or love or to associate with because of
their parentage.  And remarkably this love continues even in death.
A feat not easily done as most move on to love again, Snape chooses
not to.

I stand by my statement that Snape is not a good guy.  He is the Anti-
Hero, a reluctant hero.  ALL the things he does, he does FOR LILY.  I
think this is why Snape is so romantized by so many (including me,  I
mean really, who wouldn't want to be loved that way?).  We see the
potential for so much more and we applaud his deeds hoping that these
things will really turn him around when I don't think they do.  He
does not do these good things because they are good, he does them for
Lily.  He does them because he told DD that he would and he is
honourable.

You mentioned the Unbreakable Vow.  I don't think Sympathy was the
primary factor in doing this, although I'm sure he was very sympathic
to Narcissa and her fear for Draco. I believe Snape had no other
alternative but to make the Vow.  Imagine the scene without Bella.
Snape probably would have convinced Narcissa he'd watch Draco without
it.  Bella was so suspcious of Snape at this point nothing would have
convinced her but an Unbreakable Vow.  It's hard to take someone's
word when you don't trust them.

In Killing DD, yes, to spare him pain and humiliation that the
Carrows would have inflicted upon him. (or any other DeathEater. Ask
yourself would you choose to be killed, If you had to choose, by a
friend or foe? I would choose my friend, although I know my friend
would have alot to say about this, like Snape did). And partly to
save Draco from doing it.  He didn't want Draco living with the scar
of having killed somebody, it does something to the soul.  Although
it's hard to say whether or not Draco would have gone through with
it.  Clearly he found out it was not as easy as it looked. Would he
have done it if he had an extra 5 or 10 minutes (an eternity when
faced with a decision like this) or would he allowed DD to help him.
I think this was something he feared even more.  It's not in Draco's
nature to trust anyone especially with his life and the lives of his
family.  I think Draco wanted to believe DD, but he believed in
Voldemort's fury even more.

A VERY complicated man indeed. That's the reason I love trying to
figure him out.

Kimberley