The Prank in DH (was Re: Predictions for the End (what I think, hope and know)

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 167311

> Alla:
> And Snape is unreliable source of information? Um, I had read the 
> arguments convicting Sirius of murder based on Snape's word and 
> Snape's word alone many many times.

zgirnius:
Sure, people have posted that opinion. My own experience suggests it 
is a minority who believe this, however. I could be wrong.

Alla:
> So, I would say that I have not seen Snape judged as unreliable 
> information source much. I mean, no, I did, but by the fans who are 
> not fond of him.  And vice versa is true of course.

> Zgirnius, previously: 
> > The Marauders tend to be (quite unreasonably, in my view) 
> considered 
> > as reliable sources on their own activities, and even Snape's, 
> though 
> > the latter observation is not relevant to my argument.
> <SNIP> 
 
> Alla:
> 
> Quite unreasonably? I guess we have to agree to disagree right away 
> if we are going into Marauders are liars argument. Sorry. 
Personally 
> I am still yet to see Sirius to be proven a liar once in cannon.
> 

zgirnius:
Snape and Sirius do not lie much, if at all. This is not what makes 
them unreliable. When Snape says Sirius tried to murder him, he is 
not stating a fact of which he has certain knowledge. He is stating 
his own personal opinion, honestly held, of what Sirius did. To 
*know* Sirius tried to murder him, he would need to know things about 
Sirius's state of mind that I do not believe he could possibly know. 

Likewise, when Sirius claims Snape always loved the Dark Arts, Sirius 
is speaking of something about which *he* cannot have certain 
knowledge. He can know Snape used them (though if he did, I note he 
does not say so). He can know Snape exhibited a great depth and 
breadth of knowledge about them. But love? That is an emotion hidden 
inside Snape's heart, to which Sirius surely has no more access than 
Snape has to his. There are other reasons other than sheer love for 
Dark Arts why Snape might know them. Including, among other possible 
motivations, a interest in his favorite school subject, DADA.

Both characters are so certain they understand the evil that lies in 
the heart of the other so utterly that they jump to conclusions based 
on equivocal evidence, and we would be foolish to trust either of 
them blindly.