CHAPDISC: DH33, The Prince's Tale

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 184910

Mike wrote:
> > I know he does, which makes him better than the rest of the DEs by
far. And Regulus too. 
> > 
> > But don't you see the difference? Regulus sees the error of his
ways very early on, by pegging Voldemort for what he was. He gives up
his life in an attempt to make Voldemort mortal. 
> 
Zara responded:
> I certainly don't. The proximate causes of Reg and Sev's issues with
Voldemort were serious harm (or the threat thereof) to someone they
cared about. One day Reg was proud and honored to loan the Dark Lord a
House Elf, and the next he was plotting his revenge. Sev also gave his
life in aid of the anti-Voldemort cause, it just took 16-17 years for
it to happen. But from the time he became Albus's spy, it might have 
happened at any time.
>
Carol responds:
Not to mention that Snape provided Dumbledore with years of useful
information and Harry with years of protection, whereas Regulus's
sacrifice didn't really deprive Voldemort of a Horcrux since neither
he nor Kreacher knew how to destroy the thing. Not to take away from
Reguulus's courage or repentance, but Severus's was more useful. He
also saved the lives of Dumbledore (it's not his fault that DD didn't
come sooner and wouldn't let him talk further about the curse), Katie
Bell, Draco, and Lupin--maybe more that we don't know about: "Lately,
only those whom I could not save" implies that he has saved other
lives unrelated to protecting Harry. What saved Kreacher, OTOH, was
simply regulus' order to return. And, of course, Regulus drank the
potion himself the second time around. But, ultimately, Harry and DD
would have retrieved the true Horcrux if Regulus had not taken it
first, so Snape's contribution to the cause was more useful by far.

As for remorse, we know how strong Snape's was. It motivated him,
along with his love for Lily, for the rest of his too-short life. He
*could* simply have regretted it as Draco did but done nothing.
Instead, he did everything he could to bring down Voldemort, at great
personal risk and ultimately, at the cost of his life. (Had he not
killed Dumbledore on DD's orders, he would not have died by
Voldemort's hand.)

Carol, who agrees that the remorse in both cases was sudden and
personally motivated, but motivation for most of the characters in the
series is personal