[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape's treatment and pensieve /James v Snape

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 138406

Alla said:

> > To me adult James was a hero, who defied Voldemort
>  and who died 
> > trying to save his wife and son.


Irene replied:
Lots of less than perfect men would protect their wife
and child. Uncle Vernon in GoF comes to mind - he had
all the reasons to believe that Weasleys are a bunch
of murderous psychos, yet he is ready to protect
Petunia and Dudley with his life. Does that make him
an OK guy, then? 

I'm not saying that James didn't do some heroic things
in the first war, it might well be that he was a real
hero. But we haven't seen anything yet.

Irene



Sherry now:

But we have the evidence of Dumbledore and the reactions of the WW to the
deaths of James and Lily and the ways in which the WW speaks of James with
respect.  The prophecy implies that James and Lily defied Voldemort three
times.  The impression given by the text, any time someone mentions the
Potters is full of respect and love and admiration.  I doubt that any of us
think we are still the same obnoxious brats we were as teenagers, so I don't
have a problem believing James could have matured and become quite an
extraordinary man.  If it turns out that the only great one of that couple
was Lily, I'd be sorely disappointed.  i just can't hold the actions of
school boys against the men they become.  Not even Snape.  My dislike of
Snape has never had anything to do with what he did at school.  I think we
have a lot of canon, through the eyes of other characters, to support the
idea that James became quite an heroic man.  I'd sure like to see more of
that, in the next book.

sherry]