Snape and Marauders WAS :Draco and Intent

[jkoney65]

No: HPFGUIDX 186937

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at ...> wrote:
>
>  
> > Alla:
> > Why? You think good person could not have been a bully in his youth?  And James was just as horrible as Snape? I guess to me it really does matter what views they hold and to me the fact that James joined the Order of Phoenix and Snape joined the band of terrorists is what makes one a better person than the other if nothing else.
> 
> 
> Potioncat:
> I find it hard to believe a bully could turn out good---but I'm open to RL proof. Maybe Pippin is right and James just grew out of it over time. 
> 
> Perhaps whatever it was that motivated James to use his magic against others was channelled into use against DEs. Sort of changing his bullying into socially acceptable behavior.
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> My suggestion before hinged on the value placed on courage. In one book McGonagall speaks well of James and Lily; in another she comments on the trouble James caused in school. I wonder if his courage in the Order caused her to overlook his earlier behavior? 
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> We know that DD seemed surprised and impressed by Snape's demonstration of courage---years after they had begun their association; and Harry's "forgiveness" of Snape seems to be at least partially based on his admiration of Snape's courage.
> 
> That makes me wonder if James the bully was redeemed by his acts of courage? Although we know and Lily knew that James was (at least sometimes) a bully and a rule-breaker...I don't think DD knew the whole story. So he was impressed (imo) by James' courage in saving Severus from a werewolf and may have overlooked some of the other behavior, when he did see it.

jkoney:
I think part of it is your definition of bully. If you are including the pranks then I have to disagree with that part. Wizards in general seem to like the pranks, otherwise how would Zonko's and WWW survive?

We really only see James from Snape's point of view. And that ends during their fifth year. We are told from others that James deflated his ego and grew up. We have several people pointing out that James was a good/great guy. None of them mention his courage when they talk about him. 

I think he just grew up.

Courage is definitely one of the points that JKR beats us over the head with. One of the reasons that Peter is so hated is that he didn't have the courage to stand up for his friends.