Link to short story that JKR wrote for charity is n...

[dumbledore11214]

> Magpie:
> But they wouldn't be bad guys, which I recall was my impression. They 
> would be somebody who could get them in trouble. I wouldn't expect 
> them to knock them out either. I'd think they'd react to Aurors the 
> same way as they would Muggle police, actually. It would require a 
> little more work, but I think they'd be snarky and escape.
> 


Alla;

Agreed, and the expression that you were looking for, James and Sirius 
are portrayed "alert as gundogs", which to me also suggest that they 
see real bad guys. IMO of course.