I don't think that Dumbledore is unnecessarily cruel; I think he recognizes that Snape would appreciate being treated as an eminently rational man (he prides himself, after all, on his ability to separate emotion from judgment), as opposed to being coddled. Consider how Snape treats everyone else -- "if you can dish it, you can take it", eh? Dumbledore isn't reminding Snape of his debts (or for that matter, thinking Snape is "still the same bad guy" -- if he did, he would hardly be trusting Snape to the degree that he does) so much as reminding him of his role in this war. Their difference of opinion is not so much one of emotion or guilt (for all that emotion is involved) but of strategy: Dumbledore believes in this plan he has concocted, and believes in Harry, whereas Snape doubts Harry (and Dumbledore is sacrificing himself to give Harry the opportunity to kill Voldemort), and does not believe that his own position is worth that of the ostensible general of the Light.

I understand that this discussion is separate from your evaluation of my fiction. Don't worry; I am rather difficult to offend.

Thank you for reviewing (again)!

~Aethyr