Who are Sirius Black and Severus Snape

[mcdee1980]

No: HPFGUIDX 104506

All this talk about Sirius good or bad, well lets look at who he 
appears to be.  1.) Sirius Black is an escaped convict responsible 
for a mass murder 2.) Sirius Black is an animagus who looks 
peculiarly like a Grim, the omen for Death 3.) Sirius Black is 
innocent and Harry's beloved godfather who was good in classes, but 
had a habit of breaking the rules 4.) Sirius Black is a hazard for 
the Order, having provided them with a place to meet, but cannot 
leave the house for fear of giving them away 5.) Sirius Black is 
depressed 6.) Sirius Black leaves GP and is, as a result, dead.
What do those things tell us?
1.)  No one else thought it was impossible for Sirius to have 
committed a terrible crime 2.) No one apologizes to Sirius, except 
Lupin, for having been wrong all those years.  They still aren't 
convinced he's really a good guy 3.)Snape taunts Sirius endlessly 
about being useless, their rivalry continues where it left off.  We 
never find out who is the better man due to the fact that Sirius is 
now dead. Except!  4,5,&6) Ah yes Sirius risks himself by going to 
the Ministry to save Harry, while Snape remains undercover and does 
NOT put himself at risk to save Harry Potter.  
Despite the fact that Sirius is now dead I feel we will learn a bit 
about him in the next 2 books to balance the basic analysis out.  

Now lets talk about Severus Snape . . . 1.) Severus Snape was a Death 
Eater 2.) Severus Snape switches sides and joins the Order as a spy 
3.) Dumbledore trusts Severus Snape as both a teacher and member of 
the Order 4.) Severus Snape picks on Griffyndors in class, 
particularly Harry, Hermoine, and Nevel.  5.) Snape is doing 
important work for the Order 6.) Harry and Ron don't trust Snape, but 
Hermoine does
What do those things tell us?  Good question! Not much is the 
answer.  We've discussed his teaching practices to no end and his 
trustworthyness.  The only conclusion I've come to is that I trust 
Snape; not because of Dumbledore, but rather because of Hermione.  
She's always right.  Ron and Harry have an odd habit of being wrong 
about things.  Hermione knows that Harry has to go on by himself in 
SS, Hermione knows that Harry is innocent in COS, Hermione knows to 
trust in POA, Hermione knows that Harry is capable in GOF, and 
Hermione knows that the dream in OOtP is a trap.  I'm putting odds on 
her being right in this case.  
Lady McBeth, sick of all the fighting, but probably adding fuel to 
the fire