Lupin and Tonks *Was: Deathly Hallows: My Review )

[va32h]

No: HPFGUIDX 172465

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at ...> 

> It is sad that all of the Marauders and their contemporary and rival
> and foil, Severus Snape, had to die. But, clearly, their story has
> closed and it's time for Harry's generation, and Albus Severus's after
> him, to do a better job.

va32h here:

I just want to expand on this and say that I think it is not 
necessarily sad but poignant that the Marauders and Snape had to die. 
Poignant, and necessary. 

How much of the tragedy and turmoil of that last 17 years grew out of 
those schoolday rivalries?

The Marauders tormented Snape, who loved Lily, who in turn rejected 
Snape and chose James. Was that the action that caused Snape to become 
a DE? Had Snape not been there to overhear the prophecy and share it 
with Voldemort, would the Potters have ever been hunted? Even if they 
were, had James and Sirius not treated Wormtail like a mascot instead 
of a true friend, would he have betrayed them? And because of that 
betrayal, Sirius ended up in Azkaban, ruining his life, then broke out 
of Azkaban, and the end result of Sirius' pursuit of Wormtail is to 
send a servant back to Voldemort, to bring him back to power. (And of 
course along the way Lupin loses the best job he's surely had, because 
of Snape). 

Of course Dumbledore says, the consequences of our actions are so 
complicated and far reaching that they are impossible to predict. 
Voldemort could have risen, and been destroyed, and risen again, 
without the involvement of any of the Marauders or Snape. 

And yet as the story did happen - those six people, 
James,Lily,Sirius,Lupin,Wormtail,Snape are at the heart of it all. They 
had to die - to let all the bitterness and pain surrounding those days 
die with them. 

And Harry's generation *will* be different. Harry saved Draco, his 
rival, and not just to keep himself out of trouble (as James did with 
Snape) but truly altruistically. And Draco recognizes that - his curt 
nod at the train station shows that they will never be friends, but 
they will not be the bitter enemies that Snape and James and Sirius 
were. Ron will never be Wormtail - Ron is loved and respected and 
appreciated by his friends, he resisted the temptation to betray Harry. 
Hermione will not be Lupin - she isn't ashamed to be different 
(Mudblood and proud of it) and is strong enough not to let her desire 
for friendship cloud her judgement as to what is right and wrong. 

Which is why, of course, all of them had to live.