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There are so many factors involved for me, that this is a terribly difficult question to answer.
IF I had not seen the POA movie (and immediately plunged into obsession with Severus) before reading any of the books, I might have been of the opinion that he was a right bastard, and he probably performed heinous acts up to his death.
IF all of the books had been written before any movies were produced, I might have fallen for JKR's deception and believed Snape was a cold-hearted Death Eater, only out to protect his interests.
IF I had not read 1000 times more words of fan fiction than in the original text, I might be inclined to agree that Snape was an evil git who deserved the torment he endured.
IF JKR had not tried so very hard to mislead us about Severus' true nature, if she had not shown so much contempt for him in interviews after each book was published, my fierce protection of Severus might not have developed. I guess her repeated prohibition against the slightest sympathy for Severus was the ultimate factor for my complete forgiveness for all that he may have done.
So, how could I ever believe that Severus even needed forgiveness, taking in my irrational obsession, my not too slight crush on Rickman!Snape, my hatred for the author's despicable treatment of Severus?
Ultimately, my view of Severus' nature/character is colored by so many things, not the least by his complete manipulation between three heartless masters (Voldemort, Dumbledore and JKR), that I could forgive him anything, and I would never accept that he might have performed horrible acts unless under threat of another person's death.
He more than made up for anything he did as a young Death Eater, he sacrificed his very life and soul as restitution. That is quite enough for me.
IF I had not seen the POA movie (and immediately plunged into obsession with Severus) before reading any of the books, I might have been of the opinion that he was a right bastard, and he probably performed heinous acts up to his death.
IF all of the books had been written before any movies were produced, I might have fallen for JKR's deception and believed Snape was a cold-hearted Death Eater, only out to protect his interests.
IF I had not read 1000 times more words of fan fiction than in the original text, I might be inclined to agree that Snape was an evil git who deserved the torment he endured.
IF JKR had not tried so very hard to mislead us about Severus' true nature, if she had not shown so much contempt for him in interviews after each book was published, my fierce protection of Severus might not have developed. I guess her repeated prohibition against the slightest sympathy for Severus was the ultimate factor for my complete forgiveness for all that he may have done.
So, how could I ever believe that Severus even needed forgiveness, taking in my irrational obsession, my not too slight crush on Rickman!Snape, my hatred for the author's despicable treatment of Severus?
Ultimately, my view of Severus' nature/character is colored by so many things, not the least by his complete manipulation between three heartless masters (Voldemort, Dumbledore and JKR), that I could forgive him anything, and I would never accept that he might have performed horrible acts unless under threat of another person's death.
He more than made up for anything he did as a young Death Eater, he sacrificed his very life and soul as restitution. That is quite enough for me.