[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape's plant imagery

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 124431

> Finwitch:
> 
> You know - neither did Sirius. Sirius' family was just as - er - 
> filthy *Black* as the Snapes. Yet, Sirius chose Light. And I think 
> *that* was why James Potter trusted him so. Sirius had the courage
> to defy his entire family for the side of Light.
> 
> James Potter's family had the opposite idea - and James agreed with
> them. In that he was Snape's opposite. The one who wasn't
> challenged. Sirius, however, rose above family. (Bet James admired 
> him for that. I know I do.)
> 
> If Snape or a MAlfoy or another such ever said - ever tried to
> excuse his choices with that: "But my whole family..."
> James would say: "OH yeah? Look at Sirius! He is a Black, you know
> - but he chose my side. CHOSE to live decently. He's not hiding
> behind what his Daddy says...".


Of all the descriptions of James Potter that I've read, I find the
idea of him as a self-righteous prig the least satisfying or likely. 
Lily would not have liked him so much if he had been, and he wouldn't
have been admired by his fellow students as the height of "school
cool".

And even Siris admits that his hated family pulled away from
Voldemort when they realized what he really was all about - not in
time for Regulus, of course.  (I always get the feeling he really
hates having to admit that.)

And as other people have pointed out, we really don't know what
Snape's family was like, whether they were Dark or not.  

Being Light or Dark is not the same thing as picking favourite
Quidditch teams - you don't just pick one and cheer for it and that's
that.  You have to walk the walk, as it were.  If Sirius and James
really were concerned about fighting the Dark Side as 15-year-olds (I
disagree but for the sake of argument I'll accept the assumption),
then why didn't they act better?  You know, set a good example? 
Actions speak louder than words and all that?  Don't go around the
school hexing people?  Or holding them upside down?

Personally I think that Sirius choice was simply to be against his
family (he was a natural rebel) and in favour of James whose family
he pretty adopted as his own.  All the stuff that Sirius tells Harry
about how a man treats his inferiors or not everyone is a good guy or
a DE strike me as just so many memorized phrases that he picked up
and feels the need to pass on in godfatherly fashion.  He certainly
had no problem chucking the platitudes aside when it came time for
him to practice what he preached.

Sirius rejected his family's beliefs but he held onto a lot of their
attitudes.

Magda



	
		
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