Sirius observations was Re: Snape's Worst (and Best!) OoP Moment?

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 132618

SSSusan: 
> > Now, I'm NOT saying Snape is to blame for Sirius' death – I'm
> > not  going that far – but I will say that I understand Harry's
> > anger at  Snape.  He recalled this interaction, and he knew Snape 
> > was baiting  Sirius.  It was pretty reprehensible behavior, imo.  
 
Pippin:
> This episode was *six months* before Sirius's death. Harry is being
> completely, (but understandably) unreasonable. Further, on 
> reflection, I don't think Sirius's recklessness had anything to do 
> with the reason he taunted Bella. Think about it militarily. There 
> were lots of more valuable targets in the room: the two prophecy  
> children, three aurors, and Albus Dumbledore himself. Bella could 
> have chosen any one of them for her parting shot. Sirius  drew her 
> fire on purpose, IMO.

SSSusan:
Oh, I don't have any quibble with you re: Bella, Pippin.  When I 
talked about Snape baiting Sirius, I didn't mean in terms of his 
going to take on *Bella* specifically.  I meant in more general terms 
of his rushing out to DO something... ANYthing... to be useful to the 
Order -- e.g., to go to the MoM.  

As I said, *I* don't blame Snape for this action of Sirius'.  DD is 
correct that Sirius is (was) an adult and should have been capable of 
not allowing Snape's words to push him into any inadvisable behavior 
simply out of trying to prove Snape wrong about his alleged 
cowardice.  

No, the point I intended to make (but did not do well), is that 15-
year-old Harry, already despising Snape, already devastated by 
Sirius' death, understandably (imo) returned to this scene in his 
mind and latched onto it as a way to blame Snape for what happened.

So, while I don't think the 12GP scene was the cause of Sirius' 
death -- i.e., that Snape "forced" Sirius into rushing recklessly off 
to the MoM -- I do still believe it was a very, very low point for 
Snape in terms of his *intentions* when he spoke to Sirius about 
worthlessness, uselessness & cowardice.  


Pippin:
> Also noted on my re-reading of OOP; when Sirius accompanies Harry
> to King's Cross, he's not defying Dumbledore's orders just because 
> he feels like it.The guard would have been one short without him 
> since Podmore didn't show.

SSSusan:
Aha!  So Snape was wrong to "pick on" Sirius for that action.  
Thanks, Pippin. ;-)


Pippin:
> I think Bella realized she'd been stupid; that's why she says, 'the
> animagus Black' when she's speaking to Voldemort later. She's trying
> to justify her actions by pointing out that Sirius was a powerful
> wizard, but she knows she blew it. 

SSSusan:
Now this intrigues me, but I admit I don't get it.  Can you say more 
about how she blew it and how referring to Sirius as "animagus" 
indicates her understanding that she blew it? 

Siriusly Snapey Susan