Snape vs. Sirius (was: Snape's Stubbornness)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 127024


>>Bonnie: 
<snip>
>In chapter 21 of POA:
>" 'You surely don't believe a word of Black's story?' Snape 
whispered, his eyes fixed on Dumbledore's face. 
>.......'Sirius Black showed he was capable of murder at the age of 
sixteen,' he breathed.  'You haven't forgotten that, Headmaster?  You 
haven't forgotten that he once tried to kill me?' "
>How can someone hold a grudge for sooooo long?  There's got to be 
more to it than that.  It doesn't make sense.<
<snip>

Betsy:
Because Sirius tried to *kill* Snape?  You may as well ask why 
Harry's still upset about Voldemort trying to kill him.  Do you think 
Harry's holding an unreasonable grudge?

And to turn this around a little bit: Why was everyone so able to 
accept that Sirius was the traitor?  No one visited him in prison.  
Dumbledore did nothing to get Sirius a trial.  I think it's because 
Sirius had already shown himself capable of great cruelty with his 
dealings with Snape *and* Lupin for that matter.  He was willing to 
not only lead a fellow student to his death, but turn someone he 
thought of as a friend into a weapon.  (If Snape had died, or even 
just became a werewolf himself, what would Lupin's punishment have 
been, I wonder?)

It's also interesting to me that James redeemes himself and wins both 
Dumbledore's approval, and quite possibly Lily's love by pulling away 
from Sirius' influence. It was in an attempt to entertain Sirius that 
James sexually humiliated Snape.  James was willing to go quite far 
in dominating a peer he disliked.  Sirius was obviously willing to go 
further.

Why isn't Sirius more sheepish when he deals with Snape?  This is a 
guy he almost killed and Sirius still acts like he's got the higher 
moral ground.

>>Bonnie:
<snip>
>In OOTP Snape is in the Order with Sirius.  Snape at some point must 
have realized he was dead wrong about Sirius.<
<snip>

Betsy:
Why?  Sirius still acts quite arrogant around Snape and we never 
witness an apology.  Sirius may not have been Voldemort's man, but he 
doesn't seem to have changed much from the sixteen year old who 
almost killed Snape, at least as far as Snape's seen.  The very fact 
that Snape worked to try and help save Sirius in the end of OotP 
suggests that Snape may very well be the better man.  

Betsy