Snapedom

Original poster: bohemianspirit

O.K. I don't recall seeing this question addressed explicitly as the subject of a post (if it has, please advise) and it's been bothering the HELL out of me.


In JKR's famed Bloomsbury interview, we read:

Laura Trego: Was the absence of snapes portrait in the headmasters office in the last scene innocent or deliberate

J.K. Rowling: It was deliberate. Snape had effectively abandoned his post before dying, so he had not merited inclusion in these august circles.

J.K. Rowling: However, I like to think that Harry would be instrumental in ensuring that Snape's portrait would appear there in due course.

HUH???

I went back and re-read the scene in question. Severus Snape, attempting to find and talk to Harry, is attacked at every turn by his colleagues at Hogwarts, and finally is forced to flee for his life. How in hell's name does that equate with "abandoning his post" as headmaster of the school? Logic? Anywhere?

Personally, I think JKR just didn't want him to be in the final scene in the Headmaster's Office -- which I think is really, really offensive, especially given how much Severus Snape sacrificed of himself and his life in order to serve The Cause. Having his portrait in there would have provided a perfect opportunity for reconciliation, recognition, and closure. Nope. Gotta keep it All About Albus.

Anyway... am I smoking dope, or does this "abandoned his post" crap just not make sense? If Severus, by fleeing a scene of attack, was resigning his position, then all the students and teachers going to battle and what-not were cutting classes. :-P


(Crossposting again to snapedom and prof_snape because I got so many good answers last time from both comms. Hoot.)