#blame the adults for reinforcing if anything
okay but if james and snape’s relationship was really just rivalry, why did james hide their confrontations from lily? if james was really attacking snape because he was a death eater, why did he hide their confrontations from lily? if james’s behavior toward snape was justifiable and reasonable, why did he hide their confrontations from lily?
Because it’s childish behaviour and he’s supposed to have ‘matured’ by then. Lily gave Severus no end of grief for sneaking out to the Shrieking Shack and obsessing over the marauders. Regardless of whether or not it was justified, she berated Snape for acting recklessly and antagonizing James’ group. That’s how Lily regards Snape and the marauders, and she’s the person James is trying to win over and impress.
None of their behaviour is justifiable, just to be clear. To reiterate my point: it makes sense James would hide this stuff from Lily cause he wants to represent his best 'mature’ headboy self to Lily, that is above silly rivalries and pranks.
James didn’t hate Snape for being a deatheater, in his own words it’s cause 'he exists’. Meaning all of Snape, the culmination of him that (rather understandably) rubs James the wrong way. A nasty, ugly, greasy, contrary, anti-social, dark-arts loving, Slytherin that for some incomprehensible reason is held in high regard by the girl he likes, who he himself has continuously and spectacularly failed to win over.
Even then 'hate’ is arguable, James did save Severus’s life. As much as it can be argued that it was entirely for selfish reasons, not wishing death upon Snape could have just as likely have weighed in.
Disclaimer: this is only in response to the original post. I’m not defending his other actions nor do I mean to minimize acts such as sexual assault and reckless endangerment to ~harmless rivalry things~.
The marauders absolutely crossed some lines, I just don’t think sneaking hexes back at Snape is necessarily one of them.
