SS's cruelty - Sirius again

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 13616

Margaret wrote:
> 
> I agree with this, and it's part of why I =like= Snape as a
> character.  (Not necessarily the same thing as liking him as a
> person, but since I don't have to deal with him in Real Life,
> that's irrelevant!)  He has definite virtues, among them courage,
> competence, and a strong sense of professional ethics, but he
> also has large character flaws:  he's envious, he holds grudges,
> plays favorites, =hurts= people.  He is Not A Nice Person.  But
> he =is= on the right side.  And I think that's a valuable
> insight.
> 

I agree completely.  And I love Snape as a character also, for the 
same reasons.  (In real life, I wouldn't want to have him as a 
teacher or colleague, or run into him in a dark alley for that matter 
. . .)

I think Sirius's slashing of the Fat Lady is important for the same 
reason--that complexity is a part of why he's such a great character. 
 He has a good excuse, though, IMO, and is overall a kind and 
compassionate person, unlike SS.  And slashing a painting, even an 
animate one, isn't as bad as a lot of the things Snape does.  She can 
be repaired, and although she is embarrassed and scared, she doesn't 
seem to be in actual pain.

Slashing Ron's curtains is even more excusable.  I mean, he scared 
poor Ron senseless, but he was trying to get at Peter as fast as 
possible, and all he did was ruin some drapery.  We know he wouldn't 
have stabbed Ron.  (Broken his leg, yes, but he was nice about it. 
<g>)

Amy Z

(Singing her favorite part of Pippin's marvelous filk quietly to 
herself..."Oh, I can tell you why / I broke Ron's leg in two...")