[HPforGrownups] Judging Characters / Sociable Harry (was:Scene with likeable James...)

[Jordan Abel]

No: HPFGUIDX 156427

Betsy Hp:
> To understand James we *must* accept this scene as indicitive of an
> aspect of his character.  Of course we also have to remember that
> Lily married him, Dumbledore made him Head Boy, he saved the life of
> someone he had seen as lesser than, and he died defending his family
> from Voldemort.

I think the statement that "JKR chose to show us this scene for a
reason" contradicts the apparent attitude that she can _not_ have
chosen the scene for a reason _other_ than to indicate what James'
character is like. Even if you don't personally accept the idea that
Snape chose this memory specifically so Harry would see (face it - if
he _really_ didn't want him to see it, surely he doesn't think Harry
is a better Legilimens than Voldemort. And even if the penseive was
necessary, why was it just out? Nevermind his motivations, the
_mechanics_ don't support the idea that Snape was really trying to
hide these memories from Harry, at least not without requiring him to
be stupid), "insight into James' character for the readers" is _not_
the only option.

As for saving Snape's life - purebloods surely know the mechanics of
life debts - I don't agree with ESE!James or even
complete-total-jerk!James, but it remains that having saved his life
out of altruism is not the only possibility.

-- 
Random832