I like the way you answer the canon-compliance question. It's very level-headed and fair.
Thank you! I try, even when JKR is trying my patience with all her off-canon revisions. *g*
I always expected Fawkes to make a re-appearance at Snape's side, and the dangling thread left by Fawkes simply flying away after Dumbledore's funeral seems like a missed opportunity to me
Oh, absolutely. I couldn't believe that after building up all the Phoenix imagery and deliberately stating that Fawkes would come to those who are loyal, that plot thread was just dropped without so much an explanation. But as you say, the books were ultimately so filled with missed opportunities and dropped threads that the more you examine them, the more tempting it is to rant. I'm trying to get away from doing that, but the books don't make it easy!
Mmm, thank you for linking to ponderosa121's picture! Not only is her art amazing (as always), but yes, that captures exactly the sort of feeling I have in mind.
Harry rescuing Snape would be a really interesting turnaround and a way to explore both the vulnerability revealed by the Prince's Tale and Harry's newfound maturity. It takes a different kind of heroism, after all, to rescue your lifelong enemy
YES! Perfectly stated! That's exactly why it makes sense to me, post-DH. With the emergence of a newly capable, mature Harry and an unexpectedly vulnerable, fragile Snape, that's a really interesting dynamic to explore. I so wanted to see Harry develop that sort of strength, to apply his 'rescuing people thing' to people who weren't easy to like--like Snape.