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

[littleleahstill]

No: HPFGUIDX 184681

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at ...> 
wrote:
>
>  
> > Alla:
> > 
> > Yes, I understand all that, but that to me means that Snape 
cannot be 
> > called Harry's protector, but faithful follower of Dumbledore's 
plans 
> > to do to the boy whatever he decides and it also means to me that 
> > Snape really does not give a d*mn whether he is dead or alive, 
Harry 
> > I mean.
> 
> 
> Potioncat:
> But, by this point, Harry is no longer a boy. He's a man--a man 
with a 
> destiny. Snape is willing to die to bring down LV (at least he's 
> willing to risk death to do so.) So he might be excused for 
thinking 
> Harry would feel the same way. He provides the tools Harry needs 
for 
> his task, and at last, gives him the information he needs. I don't 
> think Snape wanted to die, and I don't think he wanted Harry to 
die. 
> But even Lily, James, and Sirius expect Harry to risk the 
sacrifice. 
> It's what they did.

Leah: Just a quick addition to Potion Cat's response, then I'll shut 
up on this one.

1. We don't have any insight into Snape's feelings on Harry's death 
after the 'pig to slaughter' speech. We see Snape co-operating with 
the Seven Potters plan to keep Harry safe in his removal from Privet 
Drive and we see him bring the Sword of Gryffidor to Harry. He has 
been told that he should not talk to Harry about the scar horcrux 
until Nagini is being protected, and the only opportunity he gets is 
to give Harry his dying memories.  We don't know what would have 
happened if Snape had talked to Harry in Hogwarts instead of being 
driven out, what Snape's feelings would have been, whether for 
example he would have gone to Voldemort with Harry, to at least be 
there in support. It seems unfair to say that he doesn't give a d*mn 
about Harry's life or death when we have no evidence on that, other 
than the 'pig to the slaughter' speech which suggests he does care.  
It's like saying that if in war an officer gives an order to his men 
(not that Snape does give an order) which may very well result in 
their deaths, instead of telling them to desert, he doesn't give a 
damn whether they live or die.  

2. The fact that his scar is a horcrux is something Harry needs to 
know. The decision as to what to do with that information is 
Harry's.  Snape is not taking him at wandpoint to die. Snape himself 
is dead by the time Harry learns that information, and Harry is 
perfectly free to decide that the boy must not die.  Withholding a 
piece of information from Harry which has very serious implications 
for him whether he decides to live or die is not protecting him. 
Putting him (for once in Harry's life) in full possession of the 
facts, or at least the facts as they are known to Snape, so that 
Harry can make informed decisons is more protective than keeping him 
in the dark. 

Leah