Turning Things Over

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Reflections on discussing HBP with non-fannish readers:
Although I am still convinced that Snape did not betray Dumbledore, I had, in some rare moments, began to wonder if JKR might be trying to get us to believe that, only to yank the rug out in book 7. Frankly, the hints that Snape is not evil (or, er, that at least he didn't truly return to Voldemort) were so heavy-handed I thought it might just possibly be a faint.

Yet, not a single casual Harry Potter reader I've discussed book 6 with has interpreted events in the Astronomy Tower differently from Harry. Their reaction has been a universal: "I'm so sad Dumbledore is dead! Snape's so evil!" Which, apart from being rather disturbing (yes, it's leisure reading, but do try to do a little analysis), has further convinced me that the hints that Snape did not betray Dumbledore are not misdirection.

Comments

[sg1scribe.livejournal.com]

(Yet, not a single casual Harry Potter reader I've discussed book 6 with has interpreted events in the Astronomy Tower differently from Harry. )

Are these adult readers? I can understand kids taking it at face value, but I'd expect adults to be looking for the twist. Maybe it is that adults approach the story as being a kid's book and so don't expect that kind of depth?

I'm totally with you on expecting Snape to eventually prove he is Dumbledore's name However, I happen to think all six books are a huge feint and that actually Neville will be the one to kill Voldemorte. The clues are there, particularly in the HPB.

[chevronsha.livejournal.com]

I would love it if neville would turn out to be the chosen one!!!

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm an adult reader, and my first thought was "OMG Snape's evil after all." I don't really see it any other way even if Snape did it to keep his cover, that's still wrong because it means he's basically done what Wormtail did. In the words of Sirius - "then you should have died."

[chevronsha.livejournal.com]

Actually I finally did buy and finish the book (then went to the Scolastic store in soho and talked shop with some of the fangirls working there) and i think (although i really hope im wrong) that its all gonna read like it was written in the Jedi mindset: "No, he didnt betray Dumbledore, but only from a certain point of view"

I kinda get the feeling that things Snape did and is doing, however terrible and pro-Voldemort seeming, are part of the bigger plan that noone is talking about...Maybe fulfilling the prophesy that really only Dumbledore and Snape heard in full in the first place?

This all sounds really familliar....(putting lightsaber away now)

Anyway, we have to be careful not to over-analyze this yet. This is all through the eyes of a 16-year-old who's protectors trust him fully....they trust him to be a 16-year-old, the chosen one or not. Would you trust a vulnerable - however gifted - high school quiddich captain with the entire secret plan to bring down the biggest, baddest, baddie that you've been cooking up for almost an entire generation? I don't think so. In fact, I would hope not. And it is obvious Dumbledore didn't.

We only have as much info as they give him and even though they are at war he is not a general, he is more their secret weapon. The weapon doesn't need to know the plan, only its part in it. We have the same choice as Harry has right now. We can trust our General Dumbledore and the plan we don't know the full extent of yet and trust that Snape didnt betray Dumbledore OR we can trust Snape's actions (cause that's all we have) and believe the only apparent betrayal.

I just hope Dumbledore is/was smarter than Yoda.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

My experience has been the same as yours, much to my surprise - as you said, I thought the hints were painfully obvious. Dedicated readers seem to agree, but casual readers seem to be taking it at face value.

[claddagh.livejournal.com]

Some people I know don't think Dumbledore is dead at all. They point to Dumbledore telling Draco that he could fake his death and his family's. In retrospect, Dumbledore makes sure he has a very credible witness to his own death, by freezing Harry in place for Snape to kill him. We know that Snape would have known that Harry was there. However, I don't really buy into this version.

I do think there is more to that death scene than we know. Harry's point of view, which isn't the most nuanced. He is predisposed to dislike Snape.

Only one friend, and I would put her in the casual reader category, thinks that Snape is evil and after I spoke to her, I don't think she was as sure.