[HPforGrownups] DH reread CH 32-33

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 187580

dumbledore11214 wrote:
> Okay, well there are two times in this book when I could almost pity Snape, almost. "Look at me" could have been one (if Snape would have acknowledged as I said in the past I was wrong Potter, you are not your father, as it is it is almost but not quite :)).

    I've just finished re-reading the entire series from the first book 
to the last. And I must admit that DH comes off much better on 
re-reading in that context. I think that a major theme of the novels is 
that not everything is what it seems to be; here, in particular, we see 
that Sevvy is not entirely evil, and Alby is not entirely good. One 
might even say that Jim and Snuffles had a large hand in pushing Sevvy 
into the ranks of the Death Eaters. From all appearances, Sevvy is close 
to Alby and Morty in his magical skills and knowledge. I think I've 
mentioned this before, here, but if I did, it was several years ago, so 
I'll say it again.

    A noted religious philosopher was in town for a conference. He was 
with a companion, looking outside the window. He noticed several young 
men stripping a car. He noted to his friend that, although what the 
young men were doing was wrong, he had to admire the skill and 
coordination that the young men had, practically as if it were poetry. 
Then, he exclaimed, "Hey wait a minute! That's MY car!"

    I suspect that this is what happened to Sevvy. He never saw what 
Morty and the Death Eaters were doing as right or wrong; he just looked 
at it as these were people who appreciated his skills and knowledge, and 
made him feel useful and wanted. Until it became personal. And even 
then, the reason why Alby was so disgusted with him was that, after 
realizing that he was on the wrong side, it was still because it was 
personal, and not because of any realization of right and wrong. Only 
with time did Sevvy realize the difference; that Lily was right, and 
that is why his worst memory was, when he had to choose between Lily and 
the Death Eaters, he chose the Death Eaters. When he came to Alby to 
protect Lily. He stayed with Alby after Lily's death because he knew it 
was the right thing to do.

    Bart