Reputations (was Re: bullies? twins, padfoot and prongs)

[demetra1225]

No: HPFGUIDX 119177


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at m...> 
wrote: [snip]
 I have no trouble believing that somehow Severus' reputation 
> concerning Dark Arts affected James' opinion of him, but I think 
> there will be a surprising twist to that in later books. And it may 
> involve Sirius' interpretation of the facts either as an adult 
> looking back, or as a student at the time.

Demetra:
I agree.  As I try to catch up on the 300 or so posts I am behind in 
reading, I have been following this very interesting thread.  

It is no secret that I am a bit of a Snape-ophile, and I try to 
figure out what makes him tick.  I also try to figure out where the 
obvious  mutual hatred between Severus and Sirius/James came from.  I 
hope JKR does divulge more about their history in future books, but 
in the meantime I have cooked up my own version of a backstory.  I do 
acknowledge that James' enmity towards Severus has some basis in his 
hatred of the Dark Arts.  

I think that Severus and Sirius both come from families associated 
with Dark Arts.  We know that Sirius' home was full of Dark Objects.  
I think we can assume they were into Dark Arts.  We know that they 
were pure-blood elitists.  Since Severus knew so many curses when he 
arrived at Hogwarts, I assume that Severus's family members were also 
nasty bastards who were into the Dark Arts.  Judging from what we've 
seen of Mommy Dearest, I bet Sirius knew just as many curses.  Now, I 
don't think that the Snape's were as "pure" or as rich as the Blacks, 
but they were very similar in all other ways. I agree with others who 
have speculated that Severus and Sirius knew each pre-Hogwarts.  I 
don't think they were friends, but I think they knew each other.  

So why did 2 boys from such similar backgrounds end up hating each 
other?  Better yet, why would a boy from such a background end up a 
Gryffindor and best friends with James?  Some have proposed that 
Sirius came to Hogwarts hating his family and the Dark Arts and found 
a natural ally in James.  I just don't think it's likely that Sirius 
had already rejected his family prior to coming to Hogwarts.  Why 
would he?  Where would he have been exposed to a different view?  The 
Blacks certainly weren't having Sunday dinner with the Weasleys.  

I think the impetus for the rejection of his upbringing was James.  
I think that Sirius met James on the Hogwarts Express, like Harry met 
Ron.  They hit it off.  James shared with Sirius that he came from a 
long line of Gryffindors who despised the Dark Arts.  Sirius, not 
wanting to ruin this potential friendship, doesn't share that he 
comes from a family of Slytherins who practice the Dark Arts (and 
later asks the Sorting Hat to place him in Gryffindor).  
Sirius does offer up to James that Severus Snape's family members are 
all Slytherins who are into the Dark Arts.  After all, what better 
for young boys to bond over, than a mutual enemy?  Thus, the 
beginning of Severus as the target of James and Snape's taunting.  
Severus, having much the same personality we see in the adult Snape, 
does give back as good as he gets.  And Severus, knowing full well 
what Sirius Black's background is, sees Sirius as either a betrayer 
of his heritage (by denying it) or as a coward for condemning Severus 
to James' ridicule while hiding his own background.

Demetra