The Huge overreactions from a five minute time span

[Joe Goodwin]

No: HPFGUIDX 150152

Julie:
>> The thing is, it's not an either/or situation. One person doesn't 
have to be good while the other is bad. Fact is, it's very probable 
Snape was a nasty little git during his school years at Hogwarts, 
doing his fair share of hexing those who annoyed him. But we also 
now know factually that James was an arrogant prick at least some of 
the time during his years at Hogwarts. <snip> <<
   
Joe: 
I would argue that there were real differences between the behavior 
of the two but I can agree with a good bit of what you are saying.
  
Julie:
>> <snip> James isn't GOOD and Snape isn't BAD (especially if he 
turns out to be DDM), just as very few people in the real world are 
GOOD or BAD but a mix of both positive and negative traits and 
tendencies. <snip> <<

Joe: 
Now here I have to disagree with the good/bad issue. For one I think 
there are a number of good people in the world and I think there are 
a number of bad people in the world as well. Now are there any 
totally flawed or totally perfect, no probably not.
   
Snape is almost certainly a bad person. Note, I'm not saying he is 
on Voldemort's side. However you don't add up his actions that we 
know of and get the sum of a good person. James was a good man who 
has had some of his teenage errors blown way out of proportion. I 
would also like to say that I don't think Snape's jinking of James 
and others are part of his character issue. I have a feeling that it 
happened all the time in a school divided by Houses and that somewhat 
encouraged rivalries. Add into that picture that Snape and James were 
what the other more than likely most disliked.
   
kchuplis:
>> <snip> We have no idea how much bias colors a pensieve memory.
And seeing anything in isolation can be deceiving. I really can't
see everyone calling James a great guy (and everyone HAS except
Snape) if he was really as big of a git all the time as the pensieve
scene showed. <snip> <<

Joe:
Thanks, I thnk you put it better than I did. You don't get almost
universally loved by being horrible. You can get that way having made
a few mistakes though. 

Catherine now:
>> There's another perspective missing here. This is "Snape's worst 
memory". Not "James' worst" or "Sirius' worst". This is the worst 
thing that, according the JKR, ever happened to Snape. <snip> I have 
a feeling that the parallels from the marauders' time is more James-
Draco, and Snape-Harry. I have a feeling that there will be 
redemption for Draco as there was for James. Lily saw the best in
people, even James. <<

Joe:
I don't think James was as much redeemed as he grew up. I am a bit
curious about your James/Draco parallel. James showed off too much
and his pranks went too far sometimes. Draco tried to murder someone
repeatedly with his only excuse being incompetence. Then he let
Death Eaters into Hogwarts.

So honestly am am really intriuged as to the similarities you see.

I also wonder why no one talks about Bellatrix's redemption. Of all
the evil being done by Death Eaters hers may be the most forgivable
if she went mad before she tortured the Longbottoms.

Draco and Snape were both (IMO) fully in control of their facilities 
when they did the things they did. Bellatrix could well have been off 
her nut for quite a long time.