Snape and moral courage WAS: Re: The Houses, Finally

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 184639

> > Alla:
> > When exactly Snape apologized to Harry? 
> 
> 
> Leah:  I just wonder when there would have been an opportunity 
> before Snape's death for this apology to take place.  Snape's 
> behaviour to Harry springs from a number of causes, the whole 
> James/Lily backstory, the need to maintain cover in his Order role, 
> particularly in front of a class which contains a high proportion 
of 
> Death Eaters' children,punishment for Harry for things he has done 
> or Snape thinks he has done outside the classroom, and a desire to 
> have Harry not turn out like James (eg the post-Sectumsempra 
> detentions).  

Zara:
I would add, that we are discussing apologies in the context of this 
thread because they are a way of accepting guilt and taking 
responsibility. Snape never says the words "I am sorry" to Harry for 
setting into motion the events that led to his parents' deaths, which 
was a consequence of his chopice to serve Voldemort. However, he does 
take on a life-long commitment to protect Harry from Voldemort and 
risks his own life by serving as a spy in Voldemort's camp, thus 
demonstrating through his actions the genuineness of the sentiment he 
never did express to Harry in words.