Conspiracies and re-assessments

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 112488

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Valky wrote:
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 I suppose what I presumed wrongly was that I 
> had successfully illustrated that Snape was attacking James as 
much  as James was ever attacking him according to Sirius canon.
> Frankly, why do you disregard so entirely that Snape was on the 
path  to being DE at this time? That he clearly did have an ambition 
to  master Dark Curses at this time? That James was more and more 
deeply  in mortal danger as Snapes foe each day that passed 
following the  pensieve scene? Make no mistake. James saw a Dark man 
in Snape, and  he was *not* all that wrong. 


Potioncat
I think we are comparing apples to oranges and at different times!
15 year old Severus was not a Death Eater.  I'll grant that 15 year 
old Severus was interested in Dark Magic.  But when James and Serius 
attacked Severus, he was just reading a test.  He wasn't practicing 
Dark Magic or hurting anyone.  

Moving on to 6th year and 7th year when we're told they still 
battle.  (But not so that Lily knows it.)  Severus is not a Death 
Eater.  If he has DE tendencies he hides them so well that a decade 
later Sirius doubts Snape was working for LV.  So I don't think 
James was ever on the lookout for DE Snape. Even after leaving 
school.

Valky:  
> I always concede the argument that those who were compassionate of 
> Snape *may* yet prove to be the ones who were the truly right. But 
> Snape *was* a Death Eater he did engage in Death Eater warfare.


Potioncat:
And I concede, we may be wrong.  In fact there are times in canon 
where I wonder if DD trusts Snape because of a magical contract 
imposed on Snape.

Valky:
> Most likely he killed and pillaged along with his fellow DE's, 
most  likely he used and practiced Dark Curses at the very least 
with some  malicious intent to boot. Definately he hated James for 
whatever  reason and probably not least of all for James' publicy 
> demonstrating him weak against innocuous magic. If Snape didn't 
try  to kill James the instant he found himself equipped for the 
purpose  then I am Figgy's kneecaps.

Potioncat:
JKR indicated in the last chat that Snape was a DE and IMHO 
indicated that he participated in DE activities.  Some of us may be 
more shocked than we'll like.

But I haven't seen where young Snape or grown Snape ever wanted 
James Potter dead.
 
Valky: 
> Not all WW soldiers in the war agreed with or chose to take 
> advantage of the advisory to use Unforgivables. James was 
> undoubtedly one of the opposers of it. I bet every last Galleon I 
> win on all my other bets on James. That is going to be a *lot* of 
> Galleons. ;D

Potioncat:
I wouldn't argue this because I don't think we  know enough about 
James Potter to know.  Lots of wizards supported Crouch in using any 
means to bring in DEs and we do not know how Potter felt about it.
> 
> 
> >Potioncat previously: 
> > Based on what we  heard about James in previous books, I believe 
> he really changed as he matured!
> > Potioncat
> 
> Valky:
> You see potioncat this is exactly my point! He didn't change! He 
> displayed better manners in the prescence of ladies and that is 
it! 

Potioncat:
Now I'm confused!  I'm talking about the "hex people just because he 
could" James, the "embarrass Snape because we're bored" James.  I 
don't think he continued with that sort of mind set as he grew up or 
we wouldn't hear so much about that nice Potter couple: James and 
Lily.

The dashing, lets sneak out and prowl around Hogsmeade, 
James...that's a different story.

Potioncat