Coward Harry, Coward Snape...

[Jim Ferer]

Lyn: "Harry may be the only one other than LV who knows the whole
story of the Horcruxes. To that extent, it means that only he knows he
cannot try to kill LV until all the HX's are destroyed."

I'd amend that to Harry can't kill LV **once and for all** until all
the Horcruxes are destroyed.

Lyn: "So is it not likely that a point will come in 7 when the "chosen
one" will have an opportunity to fight LV, in public view, and he will
have to back down, indeed perhaps run away--for reasons only he will
understand. And isn't it likely that will lead to Harry being branded
a coward, perhaps even by many closest to him."

Harry can still fight LV if he must, but he'd be better advised to run
away until he can destroy LV for good. It's a fool that doesn't
withdraw when it's strategic to do so.  Only Harry's detractors would
say anything against him for it.  His closest friends would know why,
anyway.

This will not happen, but suppose that Harry was somehow able to
destroy LV's body once more before destroying the other Horcruxes.
Even though LV still has Horcruxes, he may not know where they are; he
will have lost his body again; he will have lost yet another piece of
his soul. It would be a huge defeat and make his ultimate destruction
easier.

Lyn: "And might it turn out that at some point Harry will be able to
understand Snape, for the first time, because of his own experience of
having to hide his true mission, and suffering the derision of others
while in the act of doing what is right rather that what will achieve
immediate public acclaim."

I don't buy the SecretMission!Snape idea. Harry understands one thing:
he wants Snape dead.

Jim Ferer