#harry and snape dynamic

[maxdibert]

What do you think Snape and Harry's relationship would have been like if Snape had survived? Would Harry have thanked him personally for all the work he had done? Because at the age of 30, he was grateful enough to name his son after Snape. Would they have been able to get closer and would Snape have been some kind of a mentor to Harry? Sorry if you answered it before, I didn't find it ;)

I think Harry has a great sense of forgiveness when he understands people's motivations or when he sees that someone truly regrets their actions. I mean, just as he’s a guy who can develop strong affections or grudges very quickly and irrationally, holding onto them fiercely, he’s also someone who, when he sets his pride aside and humbles himself, can see beyond the surface and be incredibly empathetic and compassionate. He’s a Leo, after all—first, he puffs out his chest, then he actually thinks about it.

Clearly, Harry understood Snape’s reasons after seeing his memories, and he learned not only to appreciate everything he did but also to be grateful for it. And Harry is grateful—he’s not the kind of person who, if he truly feels indebted to someone, will just act all proud and dismissive. That’s not his personality. So I genuinely think he would want to express to Severus that he appreciates everything he did for him and that he’s sorry for misjudging him. Because Harry can be quite arrogant and overconfident at times, but he also has a great ability to recognize his mistakes and admit when he was wrong. And we’re talking about an 18-year-old Harry here—someone who’s been through a war, who has matured a lot—so this behavior seems perfectly in character for him, honestly.

The problem is that Severus is not like Harry. Severus is a dysfunctional, prideful, raging diva who recoils from vulnerability like a cat from water. So I can just imagine the poor boy standing in front of him, sincerely thanking him with the best of intentions, while Severus just stares at him with a face that says, What are you doing? Why are you talking? What are you talking about? Why are you talking to me?—and then promptly telling him to piss off.

You have to understand that Severus didn’t do what he did for Harry. He protected Harry because of Lily, and then, as things progressed, he came to realize that there was something bigger and more important than his guilt, his revenge, or his debt to Lily. He ultimately embraced something much greater: a sense of duty toward the greater good. Severus shifted from an entirely individualistic perspective to inheriting, even after death, Dumbledore’s vision of doing whatever it takes and sacrificing whatever is necessary to achieve the greater good. Otherwise, he never would have agreed to Dumbledore’s plan, which involved sacrificing Harry. He doesn’t accept it because he hates the kid, and he doesn’t question it because he cares about him—it has nothing to do with the boy. Nothing Severus has ever done has ever been about Harry. His hatred isn’t about Harry, it’s about James. His determination to save his skin isn’t about Harry, it’s about Lily. And the fact that he ultimately follows Dumbledore’s plan isn’t about Harry either—it’s about Severus finally understanding that the greater good must come before personal desires.

His relationship with Harry is incredibly triggering for him because it directly ties back to two traumatic events from his teenage years—being bullied by James and losing Lily, who was essential to his development. It’s too complicated for him, which is why he doesn’t see Harry as an individual but as the sum of multiple traumas.

I think Severus would be very reluctant to have any kind of relationship with him and would probably take an attitude of, Fine, fine, I accept your apologies, everything’s good, now leave me alone, wanting to push Harry as far away as possible. Because, in the end, he’s already fulfilled his lingering debt to Lily, and having to keep seeing Harry’s face isn’t something he’d be particularly fond of. And it’s not fair, because I truly believe Harry would want to have at least a decent relationship with him. Maybe not be best friends or have a mentor-student dynamic, but at least maintain something cordial. After all, Harry has always sought father figures, and every single one he’s had (Sirius, Dumbledore…) has ended up dead. But I don’t think Severus would be mentally or emotionally prepared to have a functional relationship with the kid.

He would probably settle for pretending to be civil—just enough so that Harry wouldn’t be a pain in his ass—but every time Harry tried to get closer, Severus would react in an evasive, almost childish way. Because Severus is a damn child when it comes to confronting his past issues. In fact, I even think it would piss him off that Harry would go around advocating for him, like, Oh great, now the damn kid is out here talking me up—why won’t he just leave me alone? Because Severus is a grump with the personality of a cranky old man.

I don’t see them having a particularly close relationship, but not because Harry wouldn’t try—just because Snape is an absolute bastard. I mean, I adore him for that, but he’s a massive bastard. And incredibly proud.

[lilithofpenandbook]

The best Severus and Harry dynamic is when everything is exactly the same and they absolutely loathe each other

But also Severus is the one Harry goes to when he has a nightmare, the half-asleep Severus asking if he needs to 'kiss it better' (mocking, snarky) or 'actually kiss it better' (serious, protective) and he just needs to see how Harry reacts to know whether he needs to comfort Harry or if he's good to make fun of Harry until Harry's so annoyed he stops being upset. Severus is the one who kisses Harry's forehead when Harry absolutely wrecks himself playing Quidditch. Harry's the one who drags Severus to bed when Severus is trying to power through a headache. Harry's the one who cheers Severus up when he's upset by just being a sassy lil shit and cracking Severus up.

And it's even funnier when Remus Lupin is the only person who doesn't understand what the hell is this hot-and-cold dynamic? How the hell can Sev both hug Harry after a nightmare and yet also try strangle him when he says one thing wrong? And why is everyone so normal about this?! Why isn't anyone concerned?!

To everyone else, it's pretty obvious to everyone that Remus is an only child.

[psdrawsthings]

request for a friend :P

i really believe lucius would not wear anything like that bc of internalized homophobia or something (so severus is his dress up sugarbaby doll)

[didias-hp]

this meme but they

[potions-of-dark-devotion]

The fact that when Hermione setting Snape on fire (because she thought he was the one jinxing Harry) she was actually accidentally putting Harry’s life in danger by thwarting Snape’s counter-curse against Quirrell is THE most Golden Trio thing Ever.

[pangaeaseas]

I find it fascinating that the marauders fandom despises snape, who is hated by the fandom at large (though obviously also has a large fandom of course, its just different from the marauders fandom)for bullying and being a bad teacher to harry and especially Neville,( and calling lily a slur and becoming a death eater but crucially repents)but forgives and babygirlifies Barty Crouch jr. Unrepentant death eater and...also bad teacher.Who, let's see, tortured Nevilles parents, casts the torture spell used on them in class in front of Neville, is generally a bad teacher for turning draco into a ferret btw, and who develops this weird troubling relationship with Neville who must have been absolutely horrified to know he was being taught by the guy who tortured his parents. So: snape is a bad teacher to neville and this is unforgivable, but bcj is a bad teacher to Neville and this is fine.

[iamnmbr3]

Actually, I do have a question on your thoughts about the interesting relationship between Draco and Severus.

I'm not sure how much the movies got right or not but I know a common fanon theory is that Draco bonded with him as a kinda uncle/father figure? Honestly I looked back at 6 year and the only adult who actually actively seemed to notice and give a shit about Draco's deteriorating health was Snape and the way he always seemed to just expect things from Draco in such a way makes me think there's a more familial or maybe master and student (like I'm talking classic master of an art and apprentice kinda deal where they're very close and watching each other work) kinda deal.

I've always kinda agreed with this take but I don't have canon book evidence to really understand it more? Thoughts?

Interesting question. (I'm more of a book fan myself so as to how much the movies got right my personal view is - not much - despite the outstanding efforts by Tom Felton and Alan Rickman who both gave fabulous performances imho). I think the idea of Snape as a father/uncle figure to Draco is a very popular concept that is actually more fanon than canon. Certainly Snape and Draco have interacted outside school because Snape is friends with Lucius and presumably maintained that friendship even after Voldemort's first fall in preparation for resuming his duties eventually (because remember Dumbledore was certain Voldemort was not permanently destroyed, and he probably shared that information with Snape, even if he didn't explain why he was so sure).

I certainly think Snape would've therefore spent time around Draco - and professed to care about him to some degree in order to curry favour with Lucius. Of course, Lucius probably viewed Snape as an inferior (due to wealth and blood status) who he was taking under his wing (we see the start of that dynamic in the flashback in book 7 when Lucius is a Prefect). That power dynamic only started to change post book 4 as Snape rose in Voldemort's favour while Lucius fell.

I think Draco always liked Snape and considered him a family friend/acquaintance but I don't they were close enough that Draco would consider him a father figure or uncle. Especially since Draco already had a father who he looked up to and who was involved in his life (no I don't buy into the theories that Lucius was secretly Crucioing Draco over the holidays or anything like that) so I don't think he was that starved for an adult parental figure to turn to.

In book 6 Snape tries to help Draco (both due to his promise to Narcissa and because he's trying to find out Draco's plans in order to share them with Dumbledore) but Draco, despite being in a desperate situation, rebuffs him at every turn. He doesn't trust Snape and also probably resents him for rising in Voldemort's favour while his own father's fortunes have fallen.

This is just my personal read though and that doesn't mean that alternative readings or headcanons are wrong or uninteresting.

[dewitty1]

Fic Recs Wrap Up - September 2023 (ノﾟ∀ﾟ)ノ⌒･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*☆

Salt on the Western Wind by Saras_Girl

When the war isn’t quite as over as it first appears, a guilt-ridden Harry is sent to a mysterious safe-house. Among sandwiches, insomnia, and Mills & Boon, he discovers something quite unexpected. Rec Post

Transfigurations by Resonant

Five years after Voldemort’s defeat, Harry returns to England to help re-open Hogwarts. Rec Post

The Arc of the Pendulum by brummell (actualite)

After his father casts a mysterious curse on Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy is forced to try to make things right. Rec Post

The Lily Spell by pickledghost

Harry Potter is one of the most handsome and sought after alphas on the Hogwarts Higher Education Programme. Draco Malfoy on the other hand, is the Seventh Year omega son of deceased Death Eaters and is widely ignored and shunned by his peers. Harry doesn’t even know Draco exists until he discovers that the younger boy is pregnant with his baby thanks to a spell gone wrong. Rec Post

Kiss the Joy (Until the Sun Rise) by ICMezzo  @icmezzo

The Room of Requirement was severely damaged in the war, but not so much that it could not provide for one lost student and another young hero—especially when they needed each other most of all. Rec Post

Night Magic by Kbrick @kbrick

Eighth Year isn’t what Draco or Harry expected. Harry’s horribly lonely in the aftermath of his breakup with Ginny, Draco’s stuck in a clandestine friends-with-benefits situation with a closeted Blaise, and neither one of them can ever get any bloody sleep. But when our favorite boys bond over their insomnia-related woes, things start looking up. Rec Post

The Sun in Summer (Presto Pizzicato) by Cannibalschism @cannibalschism

Harry Potter is an orphan. Everyone knows this, him most of all. Taken in by the agoraphobic and ancient Dowager Viscountess Cassiopeia Black, Harry’s musical aptitude was evident even from a young age. He has trained all his life to perform in front of a noble audience and step upon the shoulders of giants. To be known for his accomplishment and skill. To be great. And he will do anything to achieve that goal. Draco Malfoy is an orphan. He hasn’t been as such for very long, however. Known as the Instrumenteur, Draco runs a modest shoppe in lower Diagon Alley where he creates and repairs musical instruments. The Viscountess Cassiopeia Black stole everything from him the night of his parents’ fatal accident. When Harry Potter, the orphan that wretched woman took in even as she cast out her own blood, proposes the most ludicrous of schemes that might just get Draco his stolen title and life back, who is he to decline? In a time of galas, secrets, corsets, and symphonies, can love prevail over all else? Rec Post

WHISKY-TANGO-FOXTROT by Vukovich @vukovich

“Potter,” Malfoy said with a slow smile. “You’re a trashy, new money slut.” “Yeah? Maybe you like it.” – The worst thing about being the Golden Boy is the freebies. Free drinks. Easy sex. It’s all too easy. The worst thing about being a Malfoy is the expectations. Marriage. Kids. It’s all so scripted. Harry wants his arse kicked. Draco decides to grab life by the balls. Rec Post

Here are a few more fics I've read recently that y'all might like to check out as well! (ﾉ^ヮ^)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

A True Entanglement by Booktopus @thebooktopus

One moment, Harry was minding his own business, going about his workday, and the next, he found himself being dragged across the Ministry by a red string that had somehow curled up in a pretty little bow around his wrist. A story of fate, smut, falling in love, and a string named Harold.

Fire Meet Gasoline by lettersbyelise @lettersbyelise

When Draco’s anger management issues land him in St Mungo’s, he thinks his Quidditch career is over. But Harry, A&E Healer and notorious workaholic, is faced with a similar predicament. To save their jobs, the two of them decide to fake a relationship. All they have to do is convince their friends and employers… and not fall in love in the process. Simple, right?

Everything is Relative to You by honeybeet @thehoneybeet

Potter was supposed to have lived. Draco is certain of this. That Potter would no longer walk the earth was tantamount to the sun moving west to east across the sky. If only he could have stopped this from happening, if he’d have known… It comes to him as ideas often did: too late. Or, Harry dreams of his past lives, and Draco is in every one.

we'll keep the king by BlueSundayCake @bluesundaycake

On a cold December morning, Remus Lupin shows up on Severus Snape's doorstep with a child with very familiar eyes.

Evitative by Vichan

In the summer before his fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry is drawn to a room in Grimmauld Place. Like the Gryffindor he is, he enters the room without fear. The room is a library, and Harry is surprised to find that he’s eager to learn. Then he gets the bad news: he’s been accidentally expelled from Hogwarts, and he needs to be sorted again. Everyone is confident that he’ll go straight back to Gryffindor, but with what he's been learning, Harry’s not so sure.

The White Pawn by Soupy_George

When eighteen-year-old Draco Malfoy finds himself back at Hogwarts on the eve of Voldemort's infamous return, he is confronted with the most difficult decision he's ever had to make: Relive the 6th year at school he's tried so hard to forget, or do the unthinkable and ally himself with Potter's lot...

( •ॢ◡-ॢ)-♡ I hope you enjoy these fics as much as I have! Happy reading, y’all! xoxo, Carey  (◍•ᴗ•◍)♡ ✧*💜💙💚💛❤💗💕💖

[zacshian]

Dress as you like.

[celestialseawitch-ff]

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

“Alright, Mr. Potter?”

“I’m fine, Professor McGonagall. He healed Hermione. She’s going to be okay now. Right?”

The last part was addressed to John. The man looked up from where he was fishing out a cigarette. He nodded as he went to light it. 

“This is a hospital wing,” Professor McGonagall snapped.

John sighed and tucked the cigarette away for later. 

“And just who do you think you are, sir?”

John raised a blond brow at the professor. “John Constantine. And yourself?”

“Professor Minerva McGonagall. I am the Deputy Headmistress of this school. This is our headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore.”

John waved at Albus dismissively. “We’ve met. Who’s the Death Eater?” He looked pointedly at the dark wizard from before that now stood behind Albus like an attack dog.

Albus drew his shoulders back. “Professor Snape is not a Death Eater. I’m afraid you're mistaken, John.”

John snorted. “Right, about as good and light of a wizard as you are, I’m sure.”

Albus’ eyes flickered with anger. Considering how well Albus tended to keep his emotions in check, John saw that for the win that it was. He smirked at the old man.

“You’re certainly one to talk, John.”

John shrugged. He wasn’t known to be one of the most powerful sorcerers in the world because he looked pretty.

“Severus says you claim to have been sent here by letter,” the headmaster continued, “but as far as I can recall, you’re still blacklisted from the ICW.”

John snorted. “Yeah, thanks for that by the way. Being wrongfully accused of ritual murder wasn’t on my bucket list but it sure was fun to fight off all those dementors.” His smirk widened. “Tell me, have they replenished their stock yet? I’m itching for a little fun while I’m around.”

Minerva gasped as she moved between Harry and John as if to shield the child with her body. Harry looked unconcerned, his eyes focused on John with curiosity. 

“John,” Albus insisted.

John rolled his eyes. He fished out the letter and handed it to Minerva. “I haven’t broken any rules. And I assume I was asked here only so the ministry wouldn’t break any rules either.”

Minerva eyed him warily as she opened the letter.

“I’m afraid you already have, John,” Albus said. “You did blood magic. That’s highly illegal. And on a minor. It pains me to need to alert the ICW and the British Aurors, but something tells me you won’t go quietly.”

John grinned. He could feel Albus’ growing annoyance with him at his blasé attitude. It had always riled the man up that he couldn’t get into John’s head. John always used it to his advantage. He prided himself on being one of the only bastards out there that could pull one over on Albus Dumbledore.

Minerva took in a sharp breath of air as she pressed a hand to her chest. She looked up from the parchment to John with wide eyes. “You’re Miss Granger’s birth father?”

Harry’s head shot up. The other adults all went still with shock.

John leaned back in his chair and rested his feet up on the end of the bed, ankles crossed. He linked his fingers together as he rested his elbows on the arms of the chairs and grinned up at Albus.

“Guess I didn’t break any laws, Albus. Blood magic is allowed between family relations, most notably in the use of healing spells. Guess you’ll just have to make up false allegations… again.”

Albus took the parchment from Minerva and read it over. The anger rolling off of the old wizard was palpable. John looked across the bed to Harry who was eyeing the headmaster suspiciously. 

“Well,” Albus said at length, “how good that you were finally able to show up for your daughter, John.”

John chuckled noiselessly. “Honestly, I’m a bit offended you haven’t noticed the resemblance – or the attitude.” He smirked. “Or the extra curriculars. Tell me, how is that poltergeist doing?”

Albus blinked widely. “Hermione is the one who got rid of Peeves?”

John shrugged. “Been teaching her everything I know. I’m sure you’ve noticed how locked down her mind is. Like I’d send her anywhere near the likes of you without first making sure her head was a locked vault.” His eyes ticked over to the Death Eater. “Good thing too.”

[maxdibert]

Severus Snape is literally the most important character of the entire Marauders' generation because the fate of all of them depends on him, and because, basically, they only exist, aside from giving Harry some parents and friends, to complete Snape's backstory. Without Snape, we wouldn’t even know what those people’s school years were like because it wouldn’t matter. It's to explain why Snape has issues, why he has that personality, why he switches sides, or why he helps Harry while simultaneously hating him that we get flashbacks and learn things about them. So, guys, you should show him a bit more respect because if you have a fandom, it's basically thanks to that character you constantly leave out of your fics filled with people with colored hair and 70s wizards behaving as if they went to school during the golden era of Gen Z.

[lilithofpenandbook]

Something about Dumbledore being so hard on Snape

Dumbledore being scornful of Snape even when Snape was on his knees

Dumbledore emphasising that Snape made a mistake and must pay for it

Dumbledore who kept reminding Snape of his mistake even when he was grieving Lily

Dumbledore who didn't just let Snape change sides, he needed Snape to change his heart

Dumbledore who made the same mistakes as Snape and has been living in guilt ever since

Dumbledore who realised Snape was following in his footsteps

Dumbledore who may have started out thinking of Snape as cowardly or selfish but soon grew to trust him

Dumbledore who gave Snape half truths because if worst came to worst then Voldemort would have all the information right on his arm

Dumbledore who trusted Snape enough to not lie to him about the fact that he wasn't telling him everything even though he knew Snape resented it

Dumbledore who trusted Snape so much he knew that even if Snape resented him he would not betray him

Dumbledore who left everything he worked for in Snape's hands knowing it would be safe

Dumbledore who asked Snape to be the one to kill him, not just to save Draco's soul but for his own sake

Dumbledore who chose to die but only at the hands of someone he had grown to love

Dumbledore who once saw Snape as a desperate selfish boy that disgusted him

Dumbledore who made Snape his heir

Dumbledore who made Snape his.

[maledictusfotum]

"Yell" for the wip game?

this was hard to find for no reason??? but I did find a good 'yelling' for this 🫡 "This gets an immediate reaction from Snape, who clenches his fists at his sides and turns sharply to face Dumbledore. “Albus!”

Dumbledore doesn’t even spare him another glance, though he does start speaking quickly over any yelling that is about to be imparted. 

“No need to worry my boy, I am sure you will be able to keep it in control...""

[handledwithgloves]

james: what do you have in your mouth!?

sirius: *running over to james on all fours, a small, bleeding out severus clutched between his teeth*

james: ahaha! oh sirius! youre so silly! of course we can play with your favorite toy!

sirius: yipee!

severus: *completely exhausted yet somehow still alive, very softly and quietly* nooooooooooo

[pangaeaseas]

I don’t think she was a particularly good friend at all, though she was certainly the best he ever had (which is pretty tragic, really). But that’s not due to any deficiencies in Lily’s character, but just because this is how childhood friendships between two very different people based on nothing but proximity often go. Lily doesn’t try to understand Severus as a person one bit beyond him being the one to tell her she was magic. Severus equally doesn’t understand Lily one bit beyond her being the one who made him feel important by listening to him tell her about magic. It’s self centred on both parts, but they’re children. Friendships like these usually hang together by nostalgia for a while but inevitably drift apart. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t important or transformative.

I do think she displayed a degree of classism regarding Severus as early as the train platform though. I also read the Evanses as upper working/lower middle class at best, but they live in a house with three bedrooms (because Petunia has her own room) in an area safe enough for the children to play in a well maintained playground without adult supervision. The Snapes are coded as living in truly Dickensian poverty, not just working class but underclass, in a 2 up 2 down, no indoor toilet, bath in a tin with shared water once a week kind of slum housing, and I’ll say as a Brit that nobody disdains the underclasses quite like the respectable working-but-not-on-benefits classes, because they think they’re feckless and give them all a bad name. Petunia got her attitudes from the same parents who raised Lily. There’s still a disparity there even if Lily isn’t *that* much higher on the ladder. Most of this slum housing is gone now except a few relics in the North, but it was poverty beyond belief. But where he’s really lacking compared to her is parental love and protection and the security in identity that comes with that. She doesn’t understand this in the slightest, but no sheltered child could, and it’s not on her to try at the expense of her safety because just as she doesn’t get how his poverty is limiting, he doesn’t get how her marginalisation is terrifying her.

For me, it’s a tragedy because they were two kids who never stood a chance, not a story of one irredeemable kid who threw away a truly wonderful friend.

Again, thanks for being reasonable and not leaving wild takes or personal attacks in my inbox.

The post this was in response to was specifically about the idea that Lily was a bad friend for ending her relationship with Snape after the Mudblood incident (and implicitly for not 'saving' him from joining the Death Eater. A choice he made as a fully autonomous person). I don't think you're saying that here, though---I'm fine with the interpretation that they both had trouble fully seeing each other as people and that their friendship was dysfunctional and would have ended anyway. There are a lot of ways to interpret Lily! I just think that blaming her for ending the friendship when she did is uhhh kinda misogynist (to be clear I don't think YOU are doing that at all, I think your interpretation is actually quite interesting. The one point I would take issue with is addressed later in this response)

I appreciate your insights on the class system, Snape and Lily's relative class positions and how that might have influenced their relationship. I agree that while they come from the working class, Snape is definitely worse off, and that Lily potentially held some prejudice against him (Petunia definitely does). Having gone back and reread the Prince's Tale, I don't see her doing this on the page (I have no idea how the train platform is meant to be read as classism but I may be missing some nuance), (excepting 'Snivelly', which is the one instance of her being classist towards him I think happens on page, and I don't blame her for that lol considering) and from what I've read I don't see her as a bad friend at all, but we don't see too much of their friendship and what we do see is subjective and also dependent on how we interpret the wider political situation, so I think you can validly headcanon she was an imperfect friend and her class prejudices MAY have influenced her relationship with him (though personally I think his growing alignment with Death Eaters was uhhh a good deal worse than any hypothetical classism on her part). I do think Snape's halfblood status and connection to the Death Eaters (established pre SWM) means that by SWM he had a more privileged position in broader wizarding society than Lily. I'm not British, though, and I really don't want to say much about class positions when I am not an expert!

What we do see in the Prince's Tale is Lily being more and more concerned about, y'now, the growing hate group that wants her and people like her dead. We never see Lily making disparaging comments about his background, and 'disparaging comments' is not even the same as 'actively trying to disenfranchise and possibly kill her' (as the Death Eaters he, yes, in part due to his insecure social situation and bullying by the Marauders, is well on his way to joining pre SWM). So I think there's something of a false equivalency you are drawing. She cannot fully understnad his abusive upbringing and complete lack of financial security, yes, but she isn't joining a hate group saying people like him shouldn't exist. Especially given joining the Death Eaters is not a sensible or justifiable response to poverty and abuse. It's understandable, but not justifiable. He had other options!

A lot of my read of Snape and Lily's friendship is influenced by the fact that I think our information about James and Lily is purposefully limited to mimic the experience of a child having to accept they can never truly know a dead parent, so I don't think we have complete information to judge either James or Lily by. From what we do see, I personally think she was a good friend to him, but I don't think there is only one valid interpretation. I do think from what we do see we are meant to see her as a good friend driven away by Snape's turn towards hate but part of the dilemma of Harry Potter is that we can never truly know her!

Feel free to interpret the Snape/Lily friendship how you want, just don't go implying he was Lily's responsibility to save (that's a general message, not to anon specifically)