[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry begins to act like someone I know...

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 99008



vmonte beginning of OOTP also reminds me of the pensive scene but in a 
different way.  If you didn't know who Dudley was and happened to 
come upon the scene where Harry is taunting him (the scene right 
before the dementor attack), what kind of an opinion would you have 
of Harry?  Would you think that Harry was a bully? (I'm not condoning 
Sirius and James actions towards Snape, but we also don't know 
anything about what, if anything, may have precipitated that 
event.)   

Sherry replies

I wonder, now that the comparison of the two scenes has come into my mind,
if Snape saw any of the marauders being attacked by dementors, what would he
have done.  Harry keeps trying to warn Dudley, even while he's looking for
his wand, even after Dudley has just slugged him.  That's the thing that
always struck me in this scene.  Dudley has tormented Harry all these years,
but he still tries to protect him and does save him.  To me, that shows good
stuff in Harry's character.  I don't know if I think Snape would have acted
the same in similar circumstances.  And I'm not one who thinks Snape is a
traitor or anything.  I find his character to be very complex and
interesting.  I just think that Harry acted with compassion, and I don't
know that Snape would have.  I guess it all goes back to Harry's desire to
save people.

Sherry G