[HPforGrownups] Re: Neville's Boggart / The Marauder's Forays

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 168089

Carol said:
Lupin must have had some talent in Transfiguration to have had a hand in
making the Marauder's Map, but even if his talent equalled that of his
friends, his confidence didn't, and his talent was not the basis for their
friendship. To Sirius and James as much as to Severus once he found out the
truth, Remus was first and foremost a werewolf. 



Sherry now:

I totally disagree.  As a person with a disability, I take the interaction
between Remus and the other marauders as the way friends act.  I'm referring
only to the comments and attitude about Remus being a werewolf.  My friends
can tease me about being blind and having other disabilities in ways
strangers, acquaintances or employers sure had better not, if they don't
want to get an earful or law suit.  They have the right to tease me, because
they've proved themselves loyal friends, and I know their teasing isn't
about my disabilities, even if on the surface it may seem so to an outsider.
It's the same as them teasing me about being five feet tall or having brown
hair.  If it doesn't offend me, why should it offend anyone else.  There's
nothing in the interactions we see in this scene or any other that makes me
feel James and Sirius thought of Remus as *only* a werewolf, or that the
whole werewolf thing was their only reason for being his friends.  


Carol:
(I'm not talking about post-Shrieking Shack Sirius and Remus here; I'm
talking about the teenagers we see in "Snape's Worst Memory," who are
anything but "cool" in my opinion, nor do I think JKR wishes us to see them
as being so. Harry's initial shock and disapproval was the right reaction to
that scene, IMO. Granted, he was focusing on their arrogance and their
bullying, but he certainly didn't think they were "cool." Too bad he didn't
retain that attitude and is back to idealizing James, wanting *him* to be
the Half-Blood Prince, who was also, evidently, "cool" in Harry's and Ron's
view.)


Sherry now:
I have never understood the view that Harry should have his view of his
father ripped apart, for his own good.  Harry has never known his father,
and I found it terribly cruel--still do in fact--that JKR tore that from
him, and especially on Snape's behalf.  Harry doesn't need to have his image
of his father tarnished, just because that's part of growing up.  He will
never have the opportunity to know his father, either the good the bad or
how the bully became a hero, so why can't he keep his idealism?  After all,
I expect we will have more stories about his oh so perfect mother, and her
image may not be tarnished in the same way.  That doesn't seem very fair to
me.  I know this is utterly idiotic of me, but I've come to resent and
dislike Lily, *because* she is so damned perfect and James had to be
sacrificed.  Personally, I'm glad Harry found his faith in his father again.
After all, James did grow up to become the young man worthy to be loved by
the Sainted Lily, defied Voldemort three times, was admired by nearly
everyone who speaks of him and died trying to give his wife and son time to
escape.  Seems like a pretty good image to cling to for his orphaned son, in
my opinion.  

Sherry