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

[mommystery2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 123682


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "nrenka" <nrenka at y...> wrote:
We also see Snape make various kinds of deductive errors (often of 
> the "when you assume, you make an ass out of you and me" variety).  
> We do not see either Sirius or James in situations that we see 
Snape, so we have no model of comparison.  But we do have 
McGonagall's testimony (not disputed by the present Flitwick), and 
the amazing and textually noted as such) Animagi feat.

Ces:

The deductive errors Snape makes are usually based on the facts that 
the entire wizarding world have accepted as true, such as Black 
killing Pettigrew.  Snape can't be blamed for that error.  He does 
let his feelings for Harry stand in the way of rational thinking, but 
he is usually right.  I think he still believes the kids were under a 
Confundus curse in PoA.

While James had quick reflexes in quidditch, I know plenty of 
athletes who have that, yet in many other facets of life, their 
reflexes aren't that quick.

I too was able to pass most of my high school classes with A's, and 
was considered quite exceptional by my teachers, but that doesn't 
mean a month later I could take the same information and pass a test 
again with flying colors.  Plus, my teachers liked me - and I think 
that helped some where they would let me get by with a less than 
perfect answer, where someone else didn't get the same pass.

I feel that applied to James and Sirius too.  I have no doubts they 
were good in her class.  They liked it, therefore they did well in 
it.  While Flitwick didn't disagree with McGonagall's statement, 
neither did he corroborate it.

And did Severus ever show any interest in being Head Boy?  We've 
never heard anything about that.  I really don't think he cared one 
way or another, especially as he has never made any comments to Harry 
about it.

What I see when I read the pensieve scene are two boys looking for 
trouble and finding it in someone who wasn't even bothering them.  He 
was minding his own business, unlike Potter and Black, who, because 
one was bored, had to start bullying.

Ces