DH info on the Marauders and Snape

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 168186

Alla:

Eh, are all surprises that Harry will learn just have to be about 
Snape? I think that if Harry will learn that his father was not just 
as bad as he believed after Pensieve scene, it could be quite 
surprising for Harry. JMO. 
>

Julie:
I don't think all the surprises will be about Snape by any means,
but I do believe the Pensieve scene is a typical representation
of the interaction between Snape and the Marauders. We, and Harry,
have already been told that Snape and James hexed each other 
every time they got the opportunity, so we Snape wasn't an 
"innocent" victim in the sense that he'd never done anything to
James or the Marauders. Still, it doesn't change the fact that
in this particular incident he was ganged up on and bullied by
them. This is where the Marauders had the advantage, in numbers,
and they clearly used it. Which again doesn't make Snape innocent,
but it does make the Marauders bullies. 
 
IMO, Harry doesn't believe his father is "as bad" as he acted in
the Pensieve scene, because both Lupin and Sirius made it clear
that while the Marauders *did* act like bullying gits (not only
to Snape), James matured and grew out of it. He didn't start out
the man Harry worshipped, he *became* the man and father Harry 
still does love and worship, if not so blindly as before. That
James made a clear choice to become a certain type of person 
makes him more admirable than if he'd simply been a saint all
along, IMO. (And it's a deliberate contrast to Snape's initial 
choice to become an entirely different sort of person, IMO.)
 
As for what we will learn about the Marauders and Snape in DH,
I don't think it will be that the Pensieve scene or the Prank
were misrepresented, or that Snape was somehow the guilty party
in both instances. I believe what we will find out is *why* 
Snape and James (and Snape and Sirius) hated each other so 
much. Obviously they didn't all just meet on the train to 
Hogwarts as 11 year olds and immediately decide "I hate *that*
kid and I'm going to toment him every chance I get for the 
next seven years." It was more than Snape knowing lots about
the Dark Arts or James being a popular Quidditch player. 
*Something* initiated their mutual emnity, and that's what
we really need to know (and Harry really needs to know) to
understand their feelings and motivations, to see clearly
why each of them acted as they did.
 
IMO, 
 
Julie
 
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