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Better Man: Severus Snape Or James Potter?
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Nikkolas
Muggle

Joined: Aug 10, 2007
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PostPosted: August 10, 2007 12:08 am    Post subject: Better Man: Severus Snape Or James Potter? Reply with quote

Part 1: Better Man Overall

Part 2: Better Man For Lily
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Edward Leviathan
First Year
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PostPosted: August 10, 2007 1:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

James was, by far, the better man in both. The only reason that Snivellus did anything for Harry was because he loved Lilly, that is his only reason for redemption from the Death Eaters, that's it. James fought Voldemort and the Death Eaters from the start. Which makes him the better man for one, and Snape would have put Lilly in danger, with him being a Death Eater and everything, so that makes James better x2
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fiona8177
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PostPosted: August 10, 2007 8:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd say James.

Yes, he was a bully, but I think Snape made an easy target, don't you think? Though that shouldn't be of much reason, I still think James was the better man for sure. He has fought against Voldy and obviously very much loves his family.

Snape, though Harry reminds him a lot of James, he shouldn't have taken it out on him. Come on, a teacher vs. a kid??? How fair's that. I mean, once or twice every once in awhile is ok, but it's every single time. He did save Harry's neck here and there, but if it wasn't for Lily, I'd say he'd feel a sense of disappointment that Voldy didn't finish him off.

Yeah, James.

P.S. - I do like Snape much better though...
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Victor Crowley
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PostPosted: August 10, 2007 8:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I like James because as much of a bully as he may have been, he was still a brave and good person. He put himself between Voldemort and his family, and went down defiant, even without a wand. That shows true courage.

I must admit, that Snape turned out all right in the end, but I think he was a bit more selfish in his actions than James. I can't rightly judge him though, as he died helping Potter in the end.
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copperdude14
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PostPosted: August 10, 2007 8:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, snape is only a good person because Lily died. had she lived, he would still be bitter towards her because she married potter, whom he despised, and snape would probably still remain a death eater. so im gonna say james was better for both.
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Nikkolas
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PostPosted: August 10, 2007 6:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A. He offered his services to Dumbledore in exchange for Lily's life. Remember, when he met Dumbledore on the hill.

B. There's no statement in the book Snape ever despised Lily for marrying James. It seems quite the contrary. He cares for her as much as ever.

C. Snape opposed Voldemort for years and in a much better way. There is a thing called bravery and a thing called stupidity. Do you thinK Snape would have charged wandless at Voldemort? Mindless charging forward seldom helps anyone.
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GinnyX
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PostPosted: August 10, 2007 7:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Part 1: Better Man Overall

As James got older he matured. He died trying to protect his family. Snape, on the other hand, grew into a bully. As he got older his maturity level decreased to that of a cockroach. He even made that horribly mean comment to Hermione in GoF. I don't believe James would ever have said that to a girl, especially a little girl who was a student in his class.



Part 2: Better Man For Lily

Definitely James. Lily asked Snape to cut out the Dark Arts and he didn't. He made his choice very clear to her. And he called her a "mudblood." James would never have done that.
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Harry Loves Hermione
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PostPosted: August 11, 2007 3:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Part 1: Better man overall - James, without a doubt, he was a great guy through and through. Yes he was a prakester in school and teased Snape (but look at the crowd that Snape hung out with)

Second, He joined the order while Snape joined the Dark Lord.

Part 2: Better man for Lily - James, again this is no contest. While Snape is Admirable, and does end up dieing for Lily's son, James dies for both her and Harry.

Snape also is nasty to the last living person directly connected to Lily, Harry himself.
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halfbloodprincess
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PostPosted: August 11, 2007 5:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ok this is my opinion:

better man: james... he outgrew his bully stage... snape didnt.
better for lily: hmm.. id rather that it be snape; perhaps, he'd become less bitter with life, and james would be less arrogant.
better character: obviously snape; he's a complex man.

better man for me: snape, minus the greasy hair... or maybe snape's character with james' face... hehehe... the young james potter is really cute. Wink
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Vitadare
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PostPosted: August 11, 2007 5:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Let's look at the facts here:

Snape:

Monkey Joined Voldemort

Monkey Sold Lily and James Potter to Volemort

Monkey Sided with Dumbledore only because he was in love with another man's wife and wanted to protect her. In my opinion, Lily's marrying of James is a pretty clear indication that she did not like Severus Snape that way.

Monkey Tried to protect Harry only because he was Lily's child. Not because he was a child that was in danger or because he was under atack by Voldemort, but because he was the child of the woman he loved (who happened to have married someone else).

Monkey Pretty much targeted and bullied all of the Gryffindors. What the hell is up with that, anyway?

James:

Monkey Bullied Snape all through Hogwarts

Monkey Was married to Lily Potter

Monkey Laid down his own life to try and hold off Voldemort in an attempt to save his wife and son.

Monkey Joined Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix

Monkey Chose death over joining Voldemort

Monkey Fought as hard as he could (and to the death) to try and ensure that Voldemort's reign would cease. He was unsuccessful, but he fought as hard as he could to give Harry a chance at life.

Cheerleader Given the facts, I would say James. Perfect woman for Lily, and better man overall. Cheerleader
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halfbloodprincess
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PostPosted: August 11, 2007 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hm.. i believe its easier to fight voldemort than betray him. no one who has betrayed voldemort ever stayed alive. but some of the order who have always been openly against voldemort still survived...

and you cant judge snape too harshly. james was a pampered little boy. snape was a beaten-up boy. although arguably thats not enough reason to turn out that way, circumstances nevertheless have an effect on what the person will be like when he grows old... snape is loveless, james is loved. pretty much like voldemort is loveless too.
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Nikkolas
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PostPosted: August 11, 2007 9:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A fat lot of good charging at Voldemort without a wand did.

Dying bravely but stupidly isn't exactly that big of a feat for James, in my opinion.

he gave Lily and Harry all of an extra second while Voldemort stepped over his body.

Snape called her mudblood because he was angry and upset. People say the wrong things that they don't mean to those they love quite often. No one is sayign Snape was perfect.
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Harry Loves Hermione
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 1:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nikkolas wrote:
A fat lot of good charging at Voldemort without a wand did.

Dying bravely but stupidly isn't exactly that big of a feat for James, in my opinion.

he gave Lily and Harry all of an extra second while Voldemort stepped over his body.

Snape called her mudblood because he was angry and upset. People say the wrong things that they don't mean to those they love quite often. No one is sayign Snape was perfect.


But that one second was enough for Lily to prepare Harry - for the most powerful magic to be put into effect.

Snape had no right calling her a mudblood if he truely cared about her, which he says he did - but if he did then he shouldn't have treated her son like crap.

Snape was an exelent character, but neither the better man: overall or for lily
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cards101
Seventh Year
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 11:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

easy snape he was a death eater
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Harry Loves Hermione
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 12:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So being a death eater is better than being a member of the OOTP??
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cards101
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 12:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yes he can pass info to lord voldimort da
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Harry Loves Hermione
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 12:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cards101 wrote:
yes he can pass info to lord voldimort da


Ok, but the only reason he's "good" is because he loved another man's wife - and then he tries to bully her son into submission.

James, grows up, has a son and gives his life for his son and wife.
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cards101
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 12:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

but she did still love snivalisand plus he only pushed potter cause he resneted him becuASe he was the son of his secret crush but not his and plus he did watch over potter or did u forget about the silver doe and the sword of gryffendor
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GinnyX
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 1:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

He only did that stuff because DD told him to and because of Lily. Had it not been for that he never would have cared if Harry died.
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cards101
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 1:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

no he did help harry because he was the last memory of lily not becuase some old fart told him to he he
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GinnyX
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 1:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DD told him to guide Harry to the sword.
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cards101
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 1:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

no dumble dore said that but snape did not have to he did it becuase harry was his lovers daughter
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GinnyX
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They weren't lovers, they were best friends. And Harry was Lily's son, not daughter. Snape went through with it because of Lily, not because he cares about Harry. Snape doesn't care about anybody but Lily. Which is sweet, but very limiting.
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Nikkolas
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 1:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Snape didn't like Harry because he looked like his father.

And, despite his hatred, he did his best to save Harry's life in the first book.

And if I was Snape, a man who grew up with the worthless piece of crap James Potter was, and I had to listen to a person who knew absolutely nothing about James going on and on about how great he was, I'd be even more irritated.

Book 5 in the Pensive was a definite reality check on Harry's hero worship of his father for the last four books and showed a great deal why Snape hated both James and Harry.

As for Snape only caring abotu Lily and no one else - I am willing to say Snape had a vague sense of respect of sort for Dumbledore.
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cards101
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PostPosted: August 12, 2007 1:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote