More thoughts on the Elder Wand subplot - Owner?

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 187408

> > Kemper earlier:
> > ... to his
> > Expecto Patronum for Harry (see Dumbledore's eyes full of tears), Snape is well into the light. <SNIP>
>  
> > Alla:
> > Not evident to me at all, sorry. It is especially not evident to me that his Expecto Patronum was for Harry. I read it as Snape's shock at Dumbledore's suggestion "For him?". I read it as his indignant response that everything that he is doing is still for Lily.
> 
> Kemper now:
> Dumbledore asks "Have you grown to care for the boy?"
> Snape replies, "For *him*?".  He casts the Patronus charm.
> Dumbledore asks, "After all this time?"
> Snape answers "Always." 
> 
> Which to me reads that Snape has always cared for the boy.  I take 'always' to have started upon learning of Lily's death, which seems to be when the remorse occurs.

Magpie:
I'm with Alla in thinking it clearly says the opposite. Snape says "For *him*?" with an emphasis on him to make the point that he cares for someone, but not that guy. The Patronus Charm shows the form of the person he actually cares for. Dumbledore is moved to tears I think to see the symbol of Lily. 

If he was talking about Harry there would be no reason to say "After all this time?" because his care for Harry would be something that was recent and existing at that moment since his relationship with Harry is current. "After all this time" refers to the fact that Lily's been dead and gone for over a decade at this point, yet Snape is still inspired by his love for her. Snape's always confirms that yes, he still and always will love Lily no matter how long it's been since he's seen her.

Snape made it clear he didn't care for Harry many times over the years he knew him. That's why Dumbledore phrases his question as Snape "growing to care" for Harry, meaning over the years he's known him, directly contrasting to the "after all this time" love he's carried for Lily. 

-m