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

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 184669

 
> Alla:
> 
> Well, of course he decides to carry out Dumbledore's plan which is 
> what I was saying in my response to Potioncat. My point is that 
> deciding to carry out Dumbledore's plan is in exact contradiction 
> with protecting Harry's life as far as Snape knows <snip>

Pippin:
Snape did not agree to protect Harry's life out of consideration for
Harry or in atonement to Harry. He did it so that Lily would not have
died in vain. This is a separate and subsequent agreement to his
promise to do anything if Dumbledore would save Lily, which ended when
Lily died. This is shown by Snape's ability to set conditions for the
new agreement, which he does when he demands that Dumbledore swear
never to reveal it exists. 

One of the key concepts of chivalry is that the moral order must
prevail over personal interests. Snape's understanding that Lily will
not have died in vain if Harry fulfills his mission and destroys
Voldemort, even though that will cost Harry his life, is a mark of
Snape's moral growth, IMO, from innate selfishness to the choice of
sacrifice.  

 
> Leah:
> >Frankly, I think it requires a
> > major suspension of disbelief that Darks Art expert Snape never
> > works out horcruxes, but that's just one of many suspensions of
> > disbelief in DH, IMO.
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Agreed on that.

Pippin:
How do we know he didn't work it out? Good spies do not give away how
much they have guessed already by asking narrow questions. Snape's
attempts to pump Dumbledore for information give us our only glimpse
at how he might have gone about it with Voldemort. 


> 
> Alla:
> 
> Sirius is as well as you said, Dumbledore is as well, although after
 book 7 I really hesitate to suggest Dumbledore as Harry's protector  LOL.

Pippin:

We saw Sirius's idea of protecting Harry. He couldn't resist taking
chances. If Hagrid hadn't been there to talk him out of it, he'd have
gone after Pettigrew with Harry in tow, just as young Dumbledore
thought he could take over the WW and be Arianna's primary caregiver
at the same time. 

Dumbledore knew from experience he couldn't trust himself on something
like this. He'd start out with good intentions, but his heart wouldn't
be in it. Snape's was.


> Alla:
> 
> Lupin in many parts thanks to Snape is not at school. I disagree
that  his abilities as DADA expert are in any way less than Snape's
even  though we did not see him saving anyone in this book.

Pippin:
LOL! Lupin is by his own admission not much of a  potion-maker. As an
Auror candidate, he'd have washed out. 
 
> Alla:
> 
> Lupin spied at werewolves, something tells me that he would manage 
> with Voldemort too, but really, we just do not see other spies IMO.

Pippin:
Lupin couldn't gain the confidence of the werewolves. He couldn't hide
from them that he'd lived among wizards.  What makes you think he'd
have done better hiding things from the DE's? 

> 
> 
> Leah:
> > (iv) He is on hand at Hogwarts to keep an eye on Harry.<SNIP>
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Just as all other teachers are.

Pippin:
None of them noticed that Quirrell was hexing  Harry. 

> 
> Alla:
> 
> Except when Dumbledore hired him as Harry's bodyguard, he did not 
> fire him from the role of Harry's teacher, therefore no, I do not 
> believe it could be treated separately and if I accept your 
> requirements for the role of Harry's bodyguard, role of Harry's 
> teacher seems to me to be in huge conflict of interest.
> 
Pippin:
A conflict of interest is only a problem if you think conflicts have
to be resolved in an adversarial manner.  There are other ways to go
about it. Many people do not think that an adversarial system works
best to protect the interests of a child. 

Pippin