[HPforGrownups] Re: Apology - Sirius again...

[Susan Hall]

No: HPFGUIDX 22637


>Or how about Sirius as an adult telling Ron, Hermione, and Harry that
>Snape was a *slimy, oily, greasy-haired kid*.  That was a nice way
>for Sirius to talk about *Professor Snape* in front of the kids.  My
>point is that Sirius does have a cruel streak in him.

While I subscribe to the theory that it is in general better for responsible
adults to be reasonably respectful about  children's teachers, and not to go
round gratuitously dropping into the conversation embarassing incidents
about said teachers derived from having been at school with them, I do think
it would have been the height of hypocrisy for Sirius to have taken this
line about Snape at this particular moment.  After all, the last time the
two had met, in front of the kids to whom the remark is made, Snape had
attempted to get Sirius judicially murdered in a way which endangered
Harry's life and soul.  Furthermore, he is doing it in the context of Harry
reporting to him about the Snape/Karkaroff conversation.  Now, Sirius knows
that Karkaroff is an ex DE, and must suspect that Snape has been one too, so
referring to him as a "slimy kid" is rather restrained, in context.

Next, speaking of hypocrisy, Snape tells Dumbledore "Sirius showed himself
capable of pre-meditated murder at the age of sixteen.  He nearly murdered
me".  Now, unless I've missed something here, Death Eaters did not go round
simply making impolite remarks about people's mothers.  They killed people.
For fun.  For what one might call, loosely speaking, racist reasons.  For
being on the wrong side.  Whatever.  If Snape was a Death Eater before he
switched sides (and he was) he pretty definitely has not only been capable
of pre-meditated murder, but has actually done it.  Which, as a matter of
fact, Sirius hasn't.  It may be a technical difference between the two of
them, but it is a difference.

Susan