The impact of SWM (very long)

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 189903

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Shelley <k12listmomma at ...> wrote:

Shelley:
> I reject the need for a catalyst, a sea of change or even a turning 
> point in his life (I don't see evidence in canon for it, frankly). 

Geoff:
I think we are at a point of agreeing to disagree.

My dictionary defines "sea change" as "a profound or notable 
transformation." It does not, however, indicate that such a change 
has to occur within a specific time. I believe that not one, but three 
people, were to begin undergoing a sea change as a result of the 
incident we are discussing.

Allow me to digress for a moment. Another common phrase, at least 
in UK English, which carries the same connotation is to refer to "a 
Damascus Road experience". Now, if you are not familiar with the Bible, 
this refers to Saul of Tarsus who, as the young Christian church was 
emerging, was one of the leaders of those who wanted it stopped. He 
set out from Jerusalem to go to Damascus with letters authorising him 
to seek out Christians: to arrest and imprison and perhaps execute them
 for their faith. En route, he met with a vision of the risen Christ and, as 
a result, performed a 180 degree turn and became one of the early 
church's greatest apologists. In my early 20s, I became and evangelical 
Christian and after a similar experience of the presence of Christ in a 
completely unexpected encounter which, in my case, led to a great shift 
in my life style -  though not, I may say, turning me into a great 
preacher!

On the other hand, I know many evangelical Christians who have known 
a sea change in their lives but which have only come to the realisation of 
this gradually  and who often cannot put a date or time on when the final 
piece of the jigsaw dropped into place. C.S. Lewis is a very well-known 
Christian in this category. 

My point is, obviously, that when something which is going to cause a 
'profound or notable transformation' occurs, it doesn't follow that there 
will be an instantaneous alteration in the status quo.

Returning to my earlier assertion that three people are caught up, I believe 
that there is enough in the text of  OOTP to support this and there is 
enough subtext and suggestion to flag up further hints for the reader. I 
am going to repeat some material from OOTP and then comment on it


`Harry stared at Wormtail for a moment, then back at James, who was 
now doodling on a bit of scrap parchment. He had drawn a Snitch and 
was now tracing the letters `L.E.'. What did they stand for?'
(OOTP, "Snape's Worst Memory", p.56 UK edition)

`James was still playing with the Snitch, letting it zoom further and further 
away, almost escaping but always grabbed at the last second. Wormtail 
was watching him with his mouth open.  Every time James made a 
particularly difficult catch, Wormtail gasped and applauded. After five 
minutes of this, Harry wondered why James didn't tell Wormtail to get a 
grip on himself but James seemed to be enjoying the attention. Harry 
noticed that his father had a habit of rumpling up his hair as though to 
keep it from getting too tidy and he also kept looking over at the girls 
by the water's edge.

"Put that away will you," said Sirius finally as James made a fine catch 
and Wormtail let out a cheer, "before Wormtail wets himself with 
excitement."

Wormtail turned slightly pink but James grinned.

"If it bothers you," he said, stuffing the Snitch back in his pocket. Harry 
had the distinct impression that Sirius was the only one for whom James 
would have stopped showing off.'
(ibid. p,568)

`Students all round had turned to watch. Some of them had got to their 
feet and were edging nearer. Some looked apprehensive, others entertained'
(ibid. p.569)

`"Wash out your mouth," said James coldly. "*Scourgify*!"

Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape's mouth at once; the froth was 
covering his lips, making him gag, choking him –

"Leave him ALONE!"

James and Sirius looked round. James' free hand immediately jumped to 
his hair.  It was one of the girls from the lake edge
.


Harry's mother.

"All right, Evans?" said James and the tone of his voice was suddenly, 
pleasant. deeper, more mature.

"Leave him alone," Lily repeated



"You think you're funny," she said coldly. "But you're just an arrogant, 
bullying, Potter. Leave him *alone*."

"I will if you go out with me, Evans," said James quickly. "Go on
 go 
out with me"



"I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the 
giant squid," said Lily.

"Bad luck. Prongs," said Sirius briskly and turned back to Snape
'
(ibid. p.570)

`James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape and muttered the 
counter-curse.

"There you go," he said as Snape struggled to his feet. "You're lucky 
Evans was here, Snivellus-"

"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"

Lily blinked.  

"Fine," she said coolly. "I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your 
pants if I were you, *Snivellus*."

"Apologise to Evans!" James roared at Snape, his wand pointed 
threateningly at him.

"I don't want *you* to make him apologise," Lily shouted, rounding 
on James, "you're as bad as he is."

"What?" yelped James. "I'd NEVER call you a – you-know-what!"

"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like 
you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid 
Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you 
must because you can – I'm surprised your broomstick can get off 
the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK."

She turned on her heel and hurried away.

"Evans!" James shouted after her. "Hey, EVANS!"

But she didn't look back.

"What is it with her?" said James, trying and failing to look as though 
this was a throwaway question of no real importance to him.

"Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited, 
mate," said Sirius.

"Right," said James, who looked furious now, "right-"'
(ibid. pp.571/72)

I've quoted some quite large chunks but I think they are germane to 
my argument.

Let's remember that this scenario takes place in June or July 1976 
during the OWL exams. Within this situation, there are a number 
of interactions which hinge on previous events but there are a number 
of things which it is clear, either in what is said or hinted at in the 
reaction of the three folk involved which we can see will lead to the 
changes which we already know did happen from earlier books.

I think from the reaction of students watching and probably that of 
the girls by the lake, that James was far from being the de facto leader 
of Gryfiindor at this time. Lily's reaction sums this up. James, and 
probably Sirius are seen as nothing more than a show-off group of 
hooligans; Lupin and Wormtail probably not so much but James is 
doing more than going round hexing people if you believe Lily's list.   
I feel that she sees James as vicious and nasty. But there is the doodle. 
There is his wish to go out with her, hidden in jocularity. There is his 
fury when Sirius suggests that she considers him conceited. He wants 
Lily to notice him in a positive way and it is obvious that his current 
attempts have backfired quite spectacularly. Comments in the books, 
both previous to OOTP and later appear to suggest that he will take 
positive steps to change his attitude and outlook and so win Lily and 
gain the reputation by the time of his death five years later of being 
a great fighter for good, somethins which has borne Harry up in his 
difficulties and is just being demolished in the Pensieve scene.

The most telling sentence about Lily for me is "Lily blinked." Someone 
for whom she has offered support and for whom she faced up to 
someone she sees as a posturing bully has just metaphorically slapped 
her in the face. She is taken aback but her instant response is a cool 
backing off. I suspect that after her departure, she will be devastated 
at being treated in such a way. She will be angry at James' hamfisted 
attempts to attract her. From this will ultimately come a relationship 
with James for which he will have to change his ways completely if he 
is serious and Lily herself will have to be accepting that he has 
undergone this sea change.

And finally, Snape. Trying not to look as if he is clinging to Lily's coat 
tails because he fears that makes him weak and vulnerable to the 
Marauders, he effectively alienates for ever one of the few people who 
holds him in some regard and creates a life of loneliness and remorse
which will make him the sneering and totally unlikeable Potions teacher.

This event is  a pivotal point in the entire story because it sets up 
events which, apparently a school yard spat will reshape three people's 
lives. Snape's links to Voldemort, Lily's sacrifice and the long-running 
unravelling of the prophecy binding Harry and Voldemort to its final 
denouement 22 years later all stem from this moment on a summer 
day in their Fifth Years.