bullies? twins, padfoot and prongs

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 118723


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214"
<dumbledore11214 at y...> wrote:
> 
> 
> Carol:
> 
> If you can present evidence of fear and loathing of the Dark Arts on 
> James's part at this point, other than Sirius's after the fact 
> attribution of that hatred to him,I will reconsider this position. 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> I think the HINT of James already hating Dark Arts and especially 
> pureblood ideology IS there, namely his reaction to Snape calling 
> Lily a "Mudblood"
> 
> "What?" yelped James. "I'd NEVER call you a - you- know what!" - 
> OOP, p.648.
> 
> 
> Carol:
> 
> But even if James did hate the Dark Arts, his treatment of Severus 
> in this scene is inexcusable bullying.
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> True, but I see no reason to exclude his hate of DA as ONE of the 
> reasons for such bullying.

Carol notes:
I'll concede that objection to the pureblood ideology (which may or
may not be connected in James's mind to the Dark Arts) is one
*possible* reason for the attack on Severus. But note that the attack
*began* before Severus called Lily a "mudblood" and that she seemed
surprised by his use of the word (despite his emotional state at the
moment). I don't think we can assume an ideological basis for the
bullying though James may have justified it in his own mind after the
fact because of the insult to Lily.

We really have no evidence that the Pensieve incident was anything
other than unjustifiable bullying. It *may* have an underlying
ideological basis, but we haven't seen it yet, and having a good
reason for disliking Severus does not give James and Sirius the right
to attack and humiliate him. Nor would he have the right to attack and
humiliate either of them if the tables were turned.

We really don't know what was going on in James's mind, but his
air-headed behavior doesn't suggest any deep motivation at this point.

Carol, apologizing for being unable to let the subject drop