OOP: Re: Sirius the Jerk

[hrh_forever]

No: HPFGUIDX 62652

I didn't really lose respect for the gang...they were young and they 
were jerks, granted.  However, the mistakes that one makes at the 
age of 15 should not void the rest of their lifes accomplishments.  
James had never liked Snape and he was a bit of a bully.  I don't 
think he is in the league of Draco or Dudley, though.  One main 
distinction being that he was basically doing a one on one kind of 
thing, not having his friends hold someone and then beating them 
up.  Plus there was a lot of history between Snape and James.  Draco 
and Dudley are much more indiscriminate and sinister.  James did 
seem to stop pushing his weight around when he was an adult.  JKR 
had to show Harry that his father was not perfect, probably because 
he is going to have to work with Snape closely.

Also, it is like Dumbledore says, it is the choices that you make 
that tell who you are.  James, Sirius and Lupin chose to defy 
Voldemort.  Snape did not, but he does now.  I actually feel that 
Snape also has been misunderstood and I feel sorry for how he grew 
up and how he was treated.  It is not easy to be poor in that type 
of environment.  I also respect that Dumbledore trusts him.  He is 
obviously a very powerful wizard.  He can lie to Voldemort and make 
potions that most cannot.  A very talented man.