Cedric, Snape and carma was re: Chapter Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 190621



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Librasmile" <librasmile at ...> wrote:
...
> 
> Librasmile:
> ... But I'm a complete absolute Snape fan. I don't see him as flawless. But it still puzzles me that people can see him being harassed for years and then NOT see that incident in the Shack as an attempt to kill him. 

Steve:

You would be surprised at how the minds of teenage boys work. They will do the most impulsive and thoughtless things, and further stand by while their friend do the most ridiculous and dangerous thing imaginable. 

Teenage boys don't tell each other NOT to do thing. If a teenage boy wants to jump off a roof, his friends will stand by an let him, as countless YouTube videos of boys jumping off of roofs will attest. 

Yes, I think Sirius's act was malicious, but like all teenage boys, I don't think he looked beyond the idea of the shocked look on Snape's face when he found exactly what he expected to find. And that is the trouble with teenage boys, they can see up to the 'event', but they never look beyond it. Sirius didn't think about Snape being bitten and how Lupin would feel about that. He didn't consider the consequences to Lupin when Snape, a formidable wizard, was forced to defend himself. It was just 'Ha-Ha' imagine the look on Snape's face.

When James found out, he immediately saw the consequences to both Snape and Lupin, as well as the long term consequences to Sirius - bitten, dead, expelled perhaps imprisoned. 

So, as many have said, James acted as much to save Sirius and Lupin as he did to save Snape. 

Further, we don't know exactly what Sirius said, he may have simply revealed to Snape how to freeze the tree and get inside. And he may have done it in an off-handed way -

"Pfft...it you were any kind of wizard at all, you would know that all you had to do is touch the knot to freeze the tree."

He may have used reverse psychology, telling Snape not to touch the knot to freeze the tree and that he would die if he went inside. Of course, to a teenage boy, rather than a warning, that is more of a challenge or a dare. 

Next, no one forced Snape to go. Snape knew this was wrong. Clearly many people in charge were protecting someone from something, and did not want any students in danger. He was out after hours. He was breaking a long list of rules. He suspected Lupin was a werewolf, so he can't say he thought this was as safe as a stroll in the park. 

It was stupid of Sirius to goad Snape with no thought for the consequences to others, and it was equal stupid for Snape to be goaded and to go into what he should have known was a dangerous situation. 

But then, that's what teenage boys are ... stupid, impulsive, shortsighted, easily goaded, and generally foolish. It is a wonder any of them survive. 

Steve/bboyminn