James and Sirius: ringleaders (was Re: Student!Snape and bullying (WAS student!

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 181193

> Potioncat:
> What I don't understand is why JKR made her future heroes 
schoolyard 
> bullies. And why she turns it all upside down by having Lily say 
that 
> what they do is not as bad as what someone else is doing. I still 
think 
> that if Severus had ended up in Gryffindor, James and Sirius would 
have 
> been very happy to use his dark magic.

a_svirn:
It's actually even stranger than that. After PoA we were left with 
the impression that there was something more to that prank than Lupin 
let on (well I was left with such an impression). Surely the good guy 
Sirius would not attempt to murder or at least seriously injure 
another student merely for the hell of it? Especially if it meant the 
betrayal of one of his own friends? Nothing of course could justify 
such an action, but some stronger motivation than one Lupin offered 
in PoA seemed probable. Also Lupin said that Sirius realised the 
enormity of what he had done, and it's after seeing his expression 
James (who had known nothing about the prank) put two and two 
together and rescued Snape. However, after DH this assurance doesn't 
hold water. Now we know that the Prank precedes the Worst Memory, and 
the Sirius of the WM does not present the appearance of someone who 
had the Road-to-Damascus sort of revelation. It is not enough for him 
that he almost has Snape killed some months (or weeks) previously. He 
feels neither guilt nor unease about it – he's bored and wants more 
fun. James also does not look like someone who nobly put petty school 
grudges behind. Lupin who had just been betrayed by one at least of 
his precious friends bantered with them about werewolves as if 
nothing had happened. He had nearly become an unwitting murder tool, 
yet he didn't lift a single finger to save his would-be victim (one 
moreover who was compelled to keep his secret). It is obvious that 
the whole appalling episode was really nothing more than a prank for 
the marauders. A joke all the more funny that they had managed to get 
away with it and now could carry on with their bullying with 
impunity. It is perfectly understandable why Snape did not believe 
that James wasn't in on it. I don't believe it either. 

a_svirn.