[HPforGrownups] Re: Prodigal Sons

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 140635

SisterMagpie:


I remember pre-OotP actually describing Snape much the same way as Ceridwen 
is, actually.  Not as the Good Son, but by saying that I thought Snape 
probably resented the fact that he did lots of dirty work and all James (and

later Sirius) did was die dramatically and was remembered as a great hero, 
especially when James seemed like he could be a real jerk to Snape.  

Sherry now:

We know that James and Lily defied the dark lord three times, so how can we
say that *all* James did was to die dramatically?  We have no canon for the
part the Potters played in the war.  We only know they were loved and
respected and that they defied Voldemort three times.  i think James must
have done a lot more than die dramatically trying to save his wife and son.


And on the subject of James being a bully, this question just occurred to
me, though I don't know why it occurred just now.  How is it that people who
defend Snape so vigorously can refuse to admit his terrible bullying of
children for years, even giving him the excuse of toughening up the kids,
and yet, they can dismiss James as a bully based on one scene from Snape's
memory?  If I was given repeated scenes of James bullying all the kids in
his school it would be more convincing.  But one scene doesn't cut it for
me.  Even the words of Lupin and Sirius seem to indicate that the problems
between Snape and James were ongoing and reciprocal.  So, just because we
haven't seen Snape's part in the bullying or the enmity, does that mean it
doesn't exist?  i expect it was a lot like the problems between Harry and
Draco.

But, eventually, something happened to make James a hero, a fighter against
Voldemort worthy of the love of the sainted Lily, while Snape became a
bitter cruel man who gets his kicks out of bullying children.  I'd put my
money on James Potter being the better man inside.

sherry