OOP (sort of) - Theory about James - spoilers

[meglet2]

No: HPFGUIDX 63575

OK, we see James in fifth year being thoroughly obnoxious. Bahaviour 
that parallels that of Draco and even the DEs. (Hexing people 'just 
because he could' is the worst comment about him for me and that 
comes from Sirius trying when trying to excuse him!). 

We know Lily at this stage has utter contempt for him because she at 
least has the capacity to empathise even with the distress of 
someone she dislikes.

We know Sirius went and stayed with James and his family the 
following year, when trying to get away from his own horrible 
relations.

Yet we know Harry has only the Dursleys left as relatives now and 
had only the Dursleys from the night his parents were killed.

We know Lily started going out with James in year 7.

Putting all these facts to-gether I want to propose the following 
theory.
James changed between year 6 and 7 sufficiently for Lily Evans to be 
willing to go out with him. I would guess that that change was for  
James to discover empathy and compassion, realising something about 
the revolting nature of his taunting and conceit. Usually people 
change in such ways through traumatic events that allow them to 
recognise the suffering of others as they face up to their own. Any 
takers for the idea that James suffered major bereavement between 
years six and seven. That all the rest of his family became victims 
of Voldemort leaving him re-entering school as the last of the 
Potters. It would explain his determination to fight Voldemort with 
everything he had. it would explain his apparent character change 
into model head boy. It would explain Lily's change of heart. 
Someone with her compassion would I feel be drawn to someone who had 
suffered grievously and something more could have grown out of that. 
There are holes in it no doubt. And until JKR deigns to let us know 
more we are all just stabbing in the dark. But I like the thought of 
putting these random snippets together to come up with a possible 
new angle on Harry's orphan state. 

Mercia