Slytherin, and Snape quesions

[davehoz at yahoo.com]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C1697
From: davehoz
Subject: Re: Slytherin, and Snape quesions
Reply To: [Yahoo! #1664] Re: Slytherin, and Snape quesions
Date: 6/7/00 2:08 pm  (ET)

>Why did Sirius try to *kill*him? There must be
>some back story there.

I think he just didn't think about that possibility. I get the feeling
that Sirius was a rather reckless and lawless boy in his early days. I
don't know how many Louisa May Alcott fans are on this list, but
Sirius reminds me strongly of Dan in _Little Men_/_Jo's Boys_. He too
has a short, sometimes violent temper, has a revulsion for any sort of
restraint, and sometimes acts on impulse without thinking. He practically
burns down the whole school, which is as serious as almost killing a
student. (I don't think Sirius meant to kill Snape any more than Dan
meant to set fire to Plumfield... They just didn't think of consequences.)

The parallels between Sirius and Dan go even further. They both are
initially handsome and strong and much admired. Then they both get thrown
in prison for a crime they didn't commit and emerge as mere shadows of
their former selves: "gaunt" and hidden behind "starved masks". Dan is
eventually sent away to the wilderness and ends up dead; that's why I
have anxiety that Sirius will meet the same (or worse) fate.