Prank revisited. WAS: Harry begins to act like someone I know

[severelysigune]

No: HPFGUIDX 99278

Kathy King wrote:
<< I personally don't even understand how Harry could be sympathetic 
to a person (Snape) who just called his mother a  mudblood. Just for 
this fact, I would have appreciated what my father had done to Snape 
if I were Harry. >>
 
 
Potioncat:
< Harry saw the Marauders taking OWLS, and going outside to relax.  
He saw Snape in the shade, reading over the test.  And he saw the  
Marauders attack Snape out of boredom.  Had they said something 
like, "OK, let's get him back for that hex he did on the way into  
class..." maybe Harry would have felt differently.  With all the bad  
blood between Harry and Draco, Harry would never just attack Draco.  

So he's a better person at 15 than his dad was at 15.  And he doesn't 
approve of the behavior.  And certainly, at this point he can better 
identify with Severus the victim than James the bully.
 
I'm sure he doesn't think Snape calling Lily a name was OK either, 
but given the circumstances, something he could overlook.  And keep 
in mind, James wasn't defending Lily, he was tormenting Snape.>


Sigune adds:

Very good points, Potioncat!

I think it is also significant that Snape is *on his own* (where is 
that infamous 'gang of Slytherins' when you need them? Or is Snape 
way less close to them than Sirius seems to think?) whereas the dear 
Marauders hunt in packs... A typical sample of Gryffindor bravery? No 
matter how good Snape's reflexes are, he cannot handle *two* quick 
and talented wizards at once, and they know it. Lupin does not join 
the bullying, but condones it; and Peter positively goads James and 
Sirius on.

As for James and Sirius having good cause to torment Snape, I feel 
bound to question Sirius's excuse. He defends James and himself by 
saying that Snape lost no opportunity for hexing James; surely James 
could not take that 'lying down' (if I remember the expression 
correctly - ?). Well, we know from Lily that James was not averse 
to hexing random people in the corridors just because he could; 
should Snape be expected to take that 'lying down'? So who started 
hexing whom? They probably didn't remember it themselves. In any 
case, I think Sirius's argument a feeble excuse indeed.

Lily's defense of Snape, also, seems half-hearted at best. At times 
when I am really evil I think she merely did it in order to create an 
opportunity for bickering with James - she does take advantage of the 
situation by displaying an ability for quick repartee and 
establishing a powerful image of herself - sort of: if you want to 
impress me, you will have to do better than that. I have an uneasy 
feeling by the fact that she has to repress a smile while watching 
the Marauders humiliate Snape (haven't got my book here, sorry! but I 
know it's there). Even if you can't stand a person, seeing him or her 
treated in such a way is hardly a cause for mirth - or so I think.

Just by way of clarification: I *don't* want to defend Snape calling 
Lily names, and I *do* understand why she backed off after having 
been insulted. But I can understand perfectly why Harry was upset at 
his father's behaviour, and I agree with him.

Yours severely,

Sigune
~who does confess she changed her opinion on the Marauders and Snape 
after reading the Pensieve scene, having no sympathy for playground 
bullies, and feels bound to add that, although Snape is her favourite 
character in the series, she certainly could not stand him in RL on 
account of his horrible behaviour in class.