Mourning Snape's life

[witherwings999]

No: HPFGUIDX 183129


> SSSusan:
> This moment is, for me, one of the most chillingly well-crafted of 
> all that JKR wrote in this series.  When Snape whispers, "Look... 
> at... me..." it does likely mean that Snape wants one final look 
> at "Lily's" eyes, but I am convinced that JKR was also writing a 
> Snape who was telling Harry to look *at* him, to look at *what* he 
> was giving him, so that he could understand.  
> 
> It was, if not precisely a double entendre, still sort of a double 
> entendre... a phrase used with two distinct messages or to two 
> distinct purposes.

Witherwing:
I agree that this is one of those well-crafted passages, especially the line "Look... at... 
me..." 

After a recent rereading of Deathly Hallows I was once again struck by this line, and am 
now wondering about a possible third distinct reading of that line. In addition to Snape's 
wanting to see Lily's eyes, and wanting Harry to see the real Snape, I think Snape may be 
attempting some Legilimency on Harry in his dying moments. 

Why? Well, perhaps Snape is trying to read Harry's intentions, to gain some insight into the 
details Dumbledore entusted to Harry, but not to Snape. I imagine he was desperate to 
know if Harry really was prepared to give himself up for slaughter. Furthermore, is it 
possible Snape was able to glean enough from Harry's mind to see a way out for Harry? 
Did he see a flaw in the plan? Hadn't Harry moments before figured out that he, himself, 
not Snape, was master of the Elder Wand?

Maybe it is too far-fetched, but as a Snape fan, it makes me happier to imagine he DID 
glimpse something there that gave him a bit more peace before dying, beyond *being 
seen* by Harry, and looking at Lily's eyes.

~ Witherwing