Chapter fifty-seven_They Don't Have Friends
- There is a student to see you. [THE Unknown Person from the Council]
- Thank you!
Dumbledore hurried down the corridor. By the spiral staircase stood Harry.
- Harry ! I've been told you were looking for me.
- Yes, Professor.
- Would you like to step into my office?
- Thank you.
- Please, feel free to take a seat or help yourself to anything from the roving table... What is the matter in which you sought my assistance?
- I have _a question : I _ I don't understand...
- Yes...
Harry paced nervously up and down, his breathing speeding up:
- HOW COULD THEY! HOW COULD THEY JUST LEAVE? And YOU of all people are okay with that?! - he blurted out.
- Harry, I am afraid, personal decisions of Professor Snape do not concern you and me.
- Snape has no friends, has he? ... Don't you see, Professor? If they don't confide in you, they obviously confide in Voldemort! Everybody needs a friend, or someone...
- I may have to disagree with you there, Harry. You see: a person can do many things by themself with a necessary introspection and patience. Professor Snape, for instance, desires to be autonomous in their emotions. It doesn't mean that they don't have or suppress them, they just choose what to disclose about themself and to whom, this agency is very dear to them, which I understand and value immensely myself.
- Right! So, people shouldn't be open and truthful with each other in order to gain trust and make society?
- In my opinion, Harry, actions show the character as well as confidences. I believe, it is the greatest right of any individual - to have agency, therefore, to decide what part of their life will remain private and what shall meet other's eyes. As to the trust, I figured it might show astounding results to give this one in advance.
- What are you saying?.... To trust blindly?
- No, treat people as trustworthy untill proven otherwise.
- But this is completely mental, Professor. You are contradicting yourself, for example: Snape has quite a background, when you hired them, it was well proven that they weren't deserving of trust.
- Not to me.
- Yeah, cool. But how would a person ever be declared untrustworthy? You will give them plenty of opportunities to betray you first?!
- No, I will take necessary precautions and tread the water where I think the ground is firm.
- Why would you do that?
- Imagine how many people could have another chance and use it. I'm convinced this is worth the trouble.
Harry stood silent for a while, thinking.
- Now, Harry, if there's anything else you wish to discuss...
- No, wait, I _
- There's nothing else I could, or would want to, add to what had already been said.
- If a person doesn't care about others, why would you ever trust them?!
- Not craving other's company do not mean being disdainful, wishing others harm or neglect their needs.
- Yes, but if you see the proof that this person is able to care about their friends or someone, you have more incentives to trust them.
- Of course, it might be more convenient, but nothing more. As you may notice, we are in agreement.
- And does Snape have the same view on trust, do they grant you with advances?
- Oh, but I don't expect others to share my views, Harry. My experience had shown me, and I am sure you could relate to it, that it is rather painful not to get what you expect from someone, but also I've learned that my expectations were often inflated and I requested from others things that I could've, and should've, done myself. People don't owe you anything.
- Forgive me, Professor, but it rather sounds like an intricate euphemism for saying that one owes nothing to anyone, to discharge the speaker...
- I should've said *anything but respect*, and by respect I mean a decent treatment, regardless of differences, but adjusted to them. For it is my belief that such a basic thing isn't to be earned. By the same token, then, the speaker does *owe* something to others, but this is only one thing that I've mentioned. - Dumbledore paused, Harry remained silent - I am under the impression that what we've just came up with is closely related to the main point... You feel betrayed, Harry. And it hurts. I am glad you reached out to me. What I've told you is my vision of, say, certain things, and I can only hope that it cleared the air at least in some capacity.
Harry stared blankly at the floor for a moment, then shook his head as if abandoning attempts to persuade the Headmaster:
- To be honest, it kinda did ...
Harry made a movement to leave, then paused by the trolley:
- I'll take one of these.
- Of course, hope you'll enjoy it.
Harry nodded with a smile and left the study.