Thanks for reading and commenting! You're certainly very comprehensive. ) To me, Severus's moral growth and fundamental gentleness are so clear that I'm always astonished at the readers who can't see them. Yes, he is a jerk at times, but he shows no signs at all of being prejudiced against Muggleborns as an adult. As you say, there was plenty of opportunity for Rowling to convince us he was a racist, had she chosen to do so. She didn't.