Acceptable Abuses?

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 96102

Alla wrote: 
> Do you know what bugs me? I don't mind Sirius and Snape having a go 
> at each other. They are big boys after all, they can handle it. But 
> all time during their meetings Snape seems to ahve an upper hand. 
> First in PoA, Sirius is s fugitive, who escaped from hellish prison. 
> Snape is a professor in Hogwarts, which despite him being a spy (or 
> not) is a slightly better position than to be on the run from the law.
> 
> Then in OoP, Sirius is stuck in the Grimmaulds place and Snape does 
> something (whatever it is) for the Order.
> 
> You can say that this is a carmic justice for Sirius for how he 
> treated Snape as a child, but if you take this position, you can 
> surely agree that Sirius paid for his sins more than enough. 

Carol responds:
On the other hand, Sirius still calls Snape "Snivellus"--not exactly
willing to let bygones be bygones. The chief difference I see is that
snape is cold and calculating in his insults, not letting them get
under his skin (until Sirius pulls his wand on him and he does the
same), while Sirius is as hot-headed now as he was as a boy. Snape
knows that and takes advantage of it. As you say, Sirius is a big boy,
and bored or not, he really ought to know that he's offering himself
as a target through his own reactions and behavior. Calling Snape
"Snivellus" just reminds Snape of the grudge he owes Sirius for the
so-called Prank. Not a smart thing to do. And Sirius would be restless
and bored whether or not Snape rubbed it in. It's possible that he's
actually jealous of Snape, who's out risking his life as reckless
Sirius wishes he could do. And Snape, who has no reason to like
Sirius, takes advantage of that jealousy--and of Sirius's prickly
disposition. The smartest thing Sirius could do would be to ignore
Snape. Instead he brings the insults on himself.

Carol