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

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 127208


>>Betsy: 
>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.<

>>Alla:
>I'd like to know what are you basing this assumption on? Do you 
mean after school or while still in Hogwarts?<

Betsy:
I was following the timeline that Sirius sets up Snape for the 
Prank, Snape falls for it, James goes against Sirius and saves 
Snape's life, James becomes Head Boy, James gets the girl.

Obviously, James doesn't totally turn from Sirius.  But he does 
recognize that Sirius has gone too far this time and that there are 
some lines that shouldn't be crossed.  Dumbledore, thrilled to see 
one of Hogwarts "golden boys" learn that lesson, and also happy to 
see that James is willing to stand up to Sirius, where Remus was not 
(though Remus would have been taking on *both* Sirius and James - so 
I cut him some slack), decides that James has what it takes to be 
Head Boy.

I'm taking a leap with Lily.  Who knows what finally changes her 
mind.  But I'm guessing that James starts to take things a bit more 
seriously (no pun intended) after the infamous Prank.

>>Alla:
>If you are talking about Hogwarts times, then may I submit that we 
don't know who was more under whose influence.<
<snip>

Betsy:
I'm going to disagree with you here.  In the one scene JKR shows 
James and Sirius interacting, James was *most definitely* under 
Sirius' influence.  The attack on Snape occured because Sirius was 
bored and James was looking for a way to entertain him.  Even 
*Harry* picks up on that.  And when he confronts Sirius about it 
later, Sirius does not deny it.

It can be argued that this is just one interaction, but I submit 
that when an author has limited time in which to introduce a 
character she doesn't waste her precious words by having the 
character act *out* of character.

[Redhen has an excellent post on the relationship of James and 
Sirius here: http://www.redhen-publications.com/Padfoot-etc.html ]

>>Alla:
>If you are talking about after Hogwarts time, then I see even less 
signs of James pulling away from Sirius. he named him Harry's 
Godfather, he was present at the Cristening. James asked Sirius to 
become a Secret Keeper. I don't see any signs of them parting the 
ways.<

Betsy:
No, James doesn't fully pull away from Sirius.  Which, 
unfortunately, leads to his and Lily's death.  But, by wrecking the 
Prank Sirius set up (and I love Redhen's theory that Sirius was 
drunk at the time - thanks to Amber for linking that post in message 
# 127145) James did show himself capable of second guessing Sirius.

Betsy