good and bad Slytherins/Disappointment and Responsibility

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 175145

Preposterus wrote:
> And I want to know if there is canon for the marauders being
bullying jerks outside of their relationship with Snape. Now, there is
no denying they were bullies.  And that they were arrogant.  But I
can't recall anything to make me think they would pick on anyone
simply for being smaller or weaker than them, or even being of a
different house.
>  I think they have a specific vendetta against snape, or perhaps
> slytherins.  <snip>

Carol responds:
Their "vendetta" against Snape begins with the scene that I just cited
and consists solely of his wanting to be in Slytherin, a house that
James has been taught for unspecified reasons to scorn. (Voldemort has
been away from England for many years and is barely beginning his
return to power at this time. He does not come into the conversation
on the Hogwarts Express, which is entirely on a childish level, even
more so that Harry's with Draco in SS/PS.) The only other reason we
are given for the "vendetta" is James's "because he exists" in 
Snape's Worst Memory" in OoP.

As for canon regarding their bullying others besides Severus Snape,
have you forgotten the detention that they received for giving another
student a swollen head in HBP (one of the old cards Harry has to
recopy during his post-Sectumsempra detention) or Lily's remarks about
James hexing people in the hallways because they annoy him?

"Toerag" is Lily's term, and her judgement seems to represent JKR's
own view of James at this time. At any rate, we get no counterevidence
that I can discover. You can use the adult Sirius Black's term,
"arrogant little berks" if you prefer. Unfortunately, I see nothing in
DH to contradict Lily's view. Poor James doesn't even die fighting
Voldemort as we've been led to believe.

Carol, who has already supported her argument with canon and thinks
it's your turn now