Harry Has it Wrong!

by The Dungeon Queen

August 21, 2005
Spoiler Warning: This editorial is laden with major plot details from book six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood
Prince - read at your own risk!
As I finished my second reading of Half Blood Prince, I badly needed a tangible, logical explanation for Severus Snapes
actions. Some fellow Harry Potter fans are convinced Snape is still loyal to Voldemort and others write convincing cases that
Snape is acting according to Dumbledores instructions. In spite of its magical setting, it appears to me that all of the characters
in the Harry Potter universe act reasonably and rationally based on their life experiences. What, then, can possibly motivate
Severus Snape to act as he does in books one through six and what importance will this have in the final book of the series?
Harry believes he knows why Snape betrayed his parents to Voldemort and joined Dumbledore in his fight against the Dark
Lord. In understanding Snape, however, Harry has it wrong - at least partially wrong. After Dumbledore's death, Remus Lupin,
Professor McGonnagall, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and others are in the hospital wing discussing why Dumbledore was so certain
of Snapes loyalty. Harry is convinced he knows the reason and shares the following with his friends:
I know," said Harry, and they all turned to look at him. Snape passed Voldemort the information that made Voldemort hunt
down my mum and dad. Then Snape told Dumbledore that he hadn't realized what he was doing, he was really sorry he' done
it, sorry that they were all dead....And he didn't think my mother was worth a damn either. said Harry, because she was
Muggle-born...'Mudblood,' he called her... p. 616 (American edition)
I am convinced Harry has Snapes story only partially correct. Snape did tell Voldemort about the prophecy, but Harry is wrong
about Snape's feelings for Lily. I think Snape cared a lot more about Lily than Harry realizes. Dumbledore acknowledges how
much Snape regretted his decision to tell Voldemort about the prophecy. "I believe it to be the greatest regret of his life and the
reason he returned-" p. 549. However, Harry interrupts Dumbledore before he had finished his sentence. Harry again questions
Dumbledore:
"How can you be sure Snape is on our side?"
Dumbledore did not speak for a moment; he looked as though he was trying to make up his mind about something. At last he
said, "I am sure. I trust Severus Snape completely." p. 549.
It appears Dumbledore was thinking about telling Harry something more about Severus and his reasons for leaving Voldemort,
but chose not to. Perhaps, Dumbledore had given Severus his word that he would never reveal Snapes reasons for leaving
Voldemort.
I think Severus loved Lily. He clearly hated James. Although he knew them both, it would not explain his distress and anguish
in learning Voldemorts plan to hunt them down and kill them. Loving Lily, however, would certainly provide more a credible
explanation for his decision to leave the Dark Lord. Everyone listening to Harrys explanation "seemed to be lost in horrified
shock, trying to digest the monstrous truth of what happened." p, 617. They are so shocked by Dumbledore's death that nobody
questions Harrys assertions about Snapes feelings for Lily. As readers, JKR is manipulating her readers to accept Harry's
explanation as valid and accurate.
In the chapter "Flight of the Prince", as Harry battles Snape, Snape makes a very interesting comment to Harry. Harry attempts
to use the Sectumsempra spell against Snape, and Snape responds angrily, "You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It

was I who invented them - I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you'd turn my inventions on me, like your filthy father, would you? I
don't think so...no!" p. 604. From Harrys potion book, we know Snape invented the Levicorpus spell, the Sectumsempra spell
and many others. We also know James Potter used the Levicorpus spell to publicly humiliate Snape in front of Sirus, Lupin,
Lily and a number of other Hogwarts students. When Lily attempted to help Snape, he called her a filthy little mudblood.
Perhaps this is the event that turned Lily away from Snape permanently. It was some time after this that she started dating
James. Snape who was only a half-blood, hated James Potter the pure blood - who ultimately married Lily, had the popularity
and respect from the other students, and who took recognition for the spells Snape invented. In spite of it all, Snape continued
to love Lily. It is his love that that caused his remorse and agony when he learned of Voldemorts intent to kill the Potters.
Snape retained enough compassion and humanity that he had no stomach for killing and torturing people, especially people
who were half-bloods such as himself or muggle-borns like Lily. Dumbledore continually reminds us of the power of love and
its ability to overcome adversity and evil. Love for Lily is what kept Snape from surrendering himself to Voldemort.
I find it incredibly interesting in crafting and writing the consecutive chapters, "The Cave" and "The Lightning-Struck Tower,"
that JKR cleverly structures the earlier chapter to foreshadow the later chapter. Both Harry and Snape act in ways that can be
interpreted as following Dumbledores orders, and identical verbiage is used to describe both Harry and Snapes emotions as
they are commanded to do the unthinkable. The following describes Harry when he forces Dumbledore to drink the potion:
"Hating himself, repulsed by what he was doing, Harry forced the goblet back toward Dumbledore's mouth and tipped it. p.
571. Snape is described as follows right before he kills Dumbledore: "Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was
revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face." p. 595. I must admit I believe Snape was acting according to
Dumbledores instructions and is no longer loyal to Voldemort. Snape hates Harry, he hates James, but he always loved Lily
and continues to be loyal to Dumbledore in spite of killing him.
In the final book of the Harry Potter series, the remaining portion of Snape's story will unfold. In book six, Harry learned more
from the Half-Blood Prince through his potions book than he learned from any other teacher. In Snape's first DADA lesson,
Snape attempts to teach Harry and his fellow students how to execute spells without a wand. Even when Snape and Harry are
fleeing Hogwart's, Snape continues taunt Harry telling Harry what he has to learn to succeed against Snape and the Death
Eaters. "Blocked again and again and again until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter." p. 603.
It will require immense talent and skill to break the magic protecting each of the remaining Horcruxes. Dumbledore, who was
the greatest wizard of his time, lost his hand obtaining one Horcrux and was almost killed in his effort to obtain the other.
Dumbledore might well have died had Draco and the Death Eaters not drawn him to the Astrology tower. One of the Death
Eater even comments on Dumbledore's pale and weak condition. "He's not long for this world anyway, if you ask me!" said the
lopsided man..." p. 594. Harry must learn a great deal before he will be powerful enough to crack the magic and destroy the
remaining four Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort. Snape is the one person remaining who understands Voldemorts mind and
has the knowledge and expertise to help Harry. Harry will have to learn to trust Snape and become his student again before he
will have the skills to defeat Voldemort. Snape will have to set aside his hatred of James to help and teach Harry to vanquish
the Dark Lord. In spite of their differences, love drives and motivates them both.