The Huge overreactions from a five minute time span.

[Joe Goodwin]

No: HPFGUIDX 150219


Betsy Hp:
But I *do* think the Gryffindors behaved badly here and that Draco 
and friends did *not* deserve to be physically attacked as they 
were.  It doesn't mean I think Draco is a sweet, innocent, fluffy 
little bunny.  It does mean that I've never been a fan of 
overwhelming force and attacking from behind.  (Unless we're talking 
actual war, in which case, damn the torpedoes, etc., etc., <g>)

Joe: 
Wasn't it Draco, Crabbe and Goyle that first attempted to use overwhelming force as you call it on Harry? Really the only thing that stopped them was their poor choice of location. It wasn't just Gryffindors either if I remember rightly. Most people would agree that when you gang up on someone unfairly then you can expect the out numbered party's friends to intervene. The Slytherins set the terms of this engagement even if they didn't know they were doing it at the time. So yeah I feel comfortable in saying that got exactly what they deserved. In a real school they would have gotten beaten down.

Betsy Hp:
I think it's safe to say the Snape was more than a match for either 
James or Sirius.  There's a reason the two of them went after him 
together, especially since I'd imagine both boys would describe 
themselves as decent or honorable.  Sirius knew James would need the 
backup, and so he provided it.  As the reader is shown, Sirius was 
right.  One on one, Snape would have overpowered James eventually.  

Joe: 
What exactly are you basing that on? I know we find out that Snape was quite inventive at Hogwarts in HBP just as we earlier discovered that James was as well. Snape was obviously a gifted wizard but we hear the same thing about both James and to perhaps a lesser extent Sirius. I would be willing to wager that at least part of the reason they both disliked each other is that they were the two closest in terms of magical power in their peer group. It would be hard for two boys in such a situation not to have a fierce rivalry. Think about it, two boys well matched in ability but from rival houses and almost polar opposite personalities. One of who is(IMHO) slowly isolated for his fellow students and another who is very sports minded and at least moderately popular if not more. It is a reciepe for conflict. This is why I don't think badly of Snape for any fights he might have had with James. Really they didn't have much of a chance not to fight given the circumstnces.