James, a paragon of virtue? Was: Why Do You Like Sirius?

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 123663


>>Nora: 
><massive snippage; I have more things to do tonight, after all...>

Betsy:
More things to do *other* than discussing Harry Potter!!??!  Heaven 
forfend!  ;)
 
>>Betsy:
>If it's the interview I'm thinking of, we don't really learn 
anything new. <snip>
>I don't think she's told us *why* Dumbledore's made this decision.<

>>Nora:
>Actually, she did--she says that Dumbledore thought teaching DADA 
might "bring out the worst" in Snape.  Yes, that can be read a number 
of different ways (if I were less lazy and about to go make s'mores 
I'd dig them out of the archives--poke me later and I'll try, 
honestly), but still, that does tell us a *good deal* about 
Dumbledore and what he thinks of Snape.  It doesn't tell all, but 
it's revealing.<

Betsy:
The very fact that the quote can be read in so many different ways 
(and don't bother with the archive, I can well imagine! :)) means 
that it doesn't really answer anything.  So, therefore, still not a 
fact, still a fairly ambiguous tap-dance.  Hopefully, by time the 
series is done, we *will* know exactly what's going on and can 
say, "Ah, so *that's* what she meant!" 

>>Betsy:
>...but in my flitting about the fan blogs, most of his supporters 
are fully aware that he probably participated in some horrors.  What 
I take issue with is the idea that he's broken somehow and can only 
achieve pleasure by causing pain in others.  If Snape was *that* 
twisted, Dumbledore wouldn't let him teach *anything*.<

>>Nora:
>On this very list, you will find a number of arguments aimed at 
minimizing Snape's participation in any kind of horrors.  Some, but 
not all.  I think he *does* take pleasure in the distress of others, 
but that's not his sole defining characteristic--you have to read 
some passages rather skeezily to get around that basic idea, though.<

Betsy:
That's why I said, "most."  Though I should have further 
clarified, "those with whom I agree."  I do like Snape, I do think 
he's on Dumbledore's side, but I don't breeze over his past.  
Actually, the fact that he overcame years of training and prejudice 
to choose the right side is one of the main reasons I admire him.  To 
take away, or whitewash Snape's past as a Death Eater is to lessen 
the strength of his character, IMO.

I also think Snape is a wit, and he does enjoy the power of his 
wicked tongue.  Though I do take umbridge at the idea that he revels 
in his treatment of students like Neville (Harry is his own peculiar 
case).  His actions strike me more like a man frustrated with an 
impossibly foolish student and by God determined to *make* the boy 
learn, if he has to scare him to an inch of his life to do it.  I'm 
aware that we disagree on this.  But I do not feel that I'm ignoring 
Snape's history when I come to these conclusions.

>>Nora:
>Snape is *something* enough that Dumbledore won't let him teach 
DADA.  The question is, what how and why?<

Betsy:
The million dollar questions, Nora.  I eagerly await the answers. :) 
(One month down, six to go!)

Betsy