[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape, Hagrid and Animals

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 144014

*Is* he?

I hope (and would not be greatly surprised if we do) that we will find 
out a few more things about the character (or lack of it) of Sirius 
Black, in re Snape and otherwise, before we are through with Book VII. 
I think he was innocent of the crime for which he was sent to Azkaban, 
but I don't think he is innocent period, and I suspect Snape has good 
reason to become hysterical when the guy turns up at Hogwarts. 
Personal issues aside, Snape is a teacher, and as we have been so 
busily pointing out recently, responsible for the *safety* of the 
students. I would add, emotional safety as well as physical safety. 

O.K., let's go back to Snape's worst memory (OoP), and ask ourselves 
once again *why* it was Snape's worst memory. I think it had nothing 
to do with the grunginess of his underpants, and everything to do with 
the fact that James proposed to remove them, with Sirius on hand to 
enjoy the show.

And then let's ask ourselves why, both times Harry turns up at 12 
Grimauld Place for an extended stay (OoP), he finds Molly and Arthur 
Weasley *in residence*, even though we know from CoS that they live 
within a reasonable drive of King's Cross Station (and like the rest 
of the Wizarding world, they also have other means of getting quickly 
from one place to another).

--La Gatta



Sherry now:

i've been thinking all day about how to respond to this.  i absolutely and
completely disagree with your assessment of Sirius here.  But personal
feelings aside, because he is my favorite adult character, I don't think it
holds up against the facts either.

First of all, *anyone*  adult or child, would be humiliated about having
themselves turned upside down and their underwear showing in front of a
crowd of their peers.  Can you imagine not feeling upset about such a
terrible thing?  It doesn't need to be any more sinister than that.

Your comments about the supposed real reason for James turning poor Sevvy
upside down implies that James did it for Sirius, which means you think
James knew of his terrible behavior.  If that is true, why would he have
made Sirius the godfather and guardian to his son?  There is no way any
parent would knowingly make a child molester his son's guardian.  Remember,
Sirius isn't just a godfather, a position that has no legal validity, he is
also Harry's guardian.  It would have been criminal for Lily and James to
have considered leaving their son in the hands of someone who they knew had
done the terrible things you think Sirius did.  Whatever you think of James
as a teenager, unless you think he never did change and that he was
incredibly evil and sadistic, he would not subject his son to that!

Also, there are JKR'S words about Sirius.  Would she cry when she killed
Sirius, if he was the monster you think?  Would she say the good things
about him that she does?  This would make Sirius into a creature as evil and
disgusting as Voldemort.

As for why the Weasleys are at Grimauld place, that seems so obvious to me
and doesn't need sinister plots to explain.  It was the headquarters of the
Order of the Phoenix after all.  they were all guarding the prophecy at the
time and must have been easier to report and have meetings there.  As well
as being convenient to have all the kids there.  Since it was unplotable and
under the Fidelius Charm, it was safer than anywhere else.


Sherry