Did the Slytherins come back?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 181795

---  SnapesSlytherin at ... wrote:
>
> Hello all!
> 
> I remember the near violent list debate a while ago about 
> whether the Slytherins came back or not at the end of DH in 
> order to help the fight.? ...
> 
> JKR: They (Slytherins) are not all bad. I know I've said this
> before. ...-- they may have a slightly more highly developed
> sense of preservation than other people, because-- A part of
> the final battle that made me smile was Slughorn galloping 
> back with Slytherins. ... So yes, they came back, they came 
> back to fight. ... It's the old saying, there is no truth, 
> there are  only points of view.
> 
> 24 December 2007 PotterCast 
> http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2007/1224-pottercast-anelli.html
> 
> 
> I couldn't remember if this was resolved or not, but for 
> those who believe JKR interviews, it is!
> 
> Ciao!
> Oryomai

bboyminn:

When we debated this, I was alway sure that in her own mind,
JKR was convinced the Slytherins did return to fight, but the
real question is, directly or indirectly, did she make it clear
in the story. And, I think the answer is No.

We, or many of us, were waiting for the 'Good Slytherin' that
never came. If JKR had had one casual in-passing mention of 
the presence of Slytherins in the final moment, we would have
certainly picked up on it. But she didn't. She assumed on
some deeper level we too would assume they were there but
it is never truly mentioned, and I think that was a mistake.
Perhaps a mistake due to rushing to the end, but a mistake
none the less. 

In the view of many, this leave the Slytherins, as a whole,
totally unredeemed. She keeps telling us that not all
Slytherins are bad, and I've always agreed, but beyond a 
couple specific characters, where has she shown this to us?

As I said, one casual indirect in-passing mention would have
solved it all.

Steve/bboyminn