CHAPDISC: DH33, The Prince's Tale

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 184876

> Carol:
> I was also hoping that
> people would actually reread the paragraph and note *Harry's*
> perspective. We don't get a rerun of the memory in part because he's
> stationed himself as far as possible from James and his friends; he
> doesn't want a rerun of that side of James's personality. I think 
he's
> identifying with or at least compassionating with Severus here, and 
he
> understands that the "unforgiveable word" is the result of
> "humiliation and fury"--a mistake that can't be undone.

Zara:
This passage includes the only time in seven books that the narrator 
uses the name "Severus" in speaking of Snape: "But Harry kept his 
distance this tinme Just mentioning it because I think it supports 
your interpretation. In that one scene James, Sirius, Severus, and 
the other players are all referred to by first name, without any 
distinction base don whose side Harry is on.

> Carol:
> Fair-weather friend that I am, I had some doubts about Snape. I
> desperately *wanted* him to be good, but once in awhile I fell for 
the
> red herrings, mostly in "the Sacking of Severus Snape." 

Zara:
I guess it is because I was accepting of the Snape/Lily explanation, 
that I had no doubts at all once a certain pretty Patronus showed her 
face. (Though I was left to wonder about the injury to George 
until "The Prince's Tale" provided the explanation). Perhaps because 
I had already done my victory dance chapters ago, I found this 
chapter to be unremittingly bleak. It contained, in broad outline, 
what I had come to believe after reading HBP, but the way it was all 
written out and described I found unexpectedly moving. I had to take 
a longish break to recover from the "Always" scene before continuing, 
and did not reread my copy of DH for quite a long time, perhaps a 
couple of months. (I had planned an immediate reread...because I knew 
I would miss some good stuff in my 1 am to 7 am first reading of it.) 
Anyway, this chapter and Snape's story are my two favorite things 
about the series.