Snape provoked James (spoilers!) - long post

[rp20302000]

No: HPFGUIDX 64469

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Long time lurker, 2d time poster:

Dealing w/the "bullying incident"

1)  I cannot believe that no one else has commented on this:  p. 646 
(US), "Snape reacted so fast it was though he had been expecting an 
attack:  dropping his bag, he plunged his hand inside his robes, and 
his wand was halfway into the air when James shouted, 'Expelliarmus!'"
   Up to Snape's reaching for his wand, all James had done was call 
him "Snivellus," hardly a hexable offense in JKR's world of Malfoy, 
adult Snape, Pansy P, and Umbridge, etc. constantly abusing/provoking 
Harry.
   I'm not condoning James' actions once the threat was gone and 
prolonging the incident, but Snape DID reach for HIS wand first, and 
James reacted accordingly.  Is it James' fault he was that much 
quicker (actually, he had probably anticipated Snape's reaction from 
his name calling, but again, that's not really his fault)??

2)  Also, did anyone else not think it was wierd that Snape was 
following MWPP so closely (close enough for Harry to observe all of 
them closely) even tho presumably they were already enemies, and sooo 
engrossed in his OWL questions for a fairly long time (keeping his 
head down, pretending to be reading??)?
    I think he was trying to get them to notice him, solely for the 
fact that he could react the way he did (expecting an attack, 
reaching for his wand instantly upon hearing his name), maybe a 
little pre-summer revenge on his chief rivals for past wrongs 
committed against him.

3)  One last thing;  the whole time I was reading this I felt as if 
the whole memory, since it was Snape's, was/is tainted by his POV.  
It probably did happen very close as to how it was in the pensieve, 
but as someone mentioned earlier, a person's interpretation/memory of 
an event is an extremely subjective thing.

I'd like to hear others responses, cheers!

       -RP