As the prankster Marauder that he was, James Potter brought chaos to Hogwarts for all the years he attended as a student. Although he eventually matured enough to take on the Head Boy position in his seventh year, that was not the only time he showed his true colors of who he was outside of pranks. From Snape's perspective, James was nothing but an arrogant bully who constantly hoped Lily would reciprocate his feelings, which Snape also strived for. In the end, Lily Evans decided which of the two was a good person and which would be left behind in the past.
Over time, James proved himself as a good person. He believed in supporting Muggles and Muggle-Borns and never looked down on Remus for being a werewolf. He even welcomed Sirius into his home after Sirius ran away from his family. While James was being a good friend and preparing to join the Order of the Phoenix to defeat Voldemort, Snape was creating dark spells, using slurs against Muggle-Borns, and joining Voldemort's ranks of Death Eaters. Fans have been divided over who was ultimately the better person, but is it really that big of a question?
10 Respecting Muggles and Muggle-Borns
One of the reasons James disliked Snape so much from the start was that Snape was badmouthing Muggles. Meanwhile, Snape calling Muggle-borns Mudbloods was all anyone needed to know to understand Snape's thoughts and feelings. His attempt to suggest that Lily was different from others fell on deaf ears of those who knew better. When Snape could call Lily such a slur, something James never did, it helps solidify that Snape's feelings for Lily are closer to obsession than love.
9 Standing by Remus Lupin
Rather than turn away from his friend, James did not allow discovering Remus was a werewolf to alter their friendship. Instead, James continued to embrace him as one of his closest friends. Meanwhile, Snape was vindictive as an adult, deciding to teach the students about werewolves and how to discover or kill one. He wanted someone to realize what Remus was, as if to get back at him for being tormented as a teenager. Snape is thrilled when Lupin's secret gets revealed and happy to have him out of the way.
8 Taking in Sirius Black
James happily let his best friend move in when Sirius ran from his family. Their brotherhood was one of the biggest mysteries behind others trying to contemplate how Sirius could have betrayed him later on. Granted, no one knew that Sirius had never betrayed the Potter family until years later. Still, Sirius considered himself guilty of James and Lily's deaths because of switching the Secret Keeper to Peter Pettigrew. Snape's only friend that the series shows him having is Lily, and he eventually ruins that friendship on his own.
7 Joining The Order of the Phoenix
When Snape signed up to be a Death Eater, James joined the Order of the Phoenix. Snape has gotten credit from fans for switching sides after discovering Voldemort's plan to kill Lily. However, there is not a lot of attention spent on the fact that Snape chose to become a Death Eater because he believed in Voldemort's desires.
It also never gets enough attention that Snape's decision to change sides has nothing to do with concluding that he had the wrong beliefs about the wizarding world and realizing that Voldemort and himself were mistaken. James knew right from the start that Voldemort was wrong, and fought against a world run by that mentality.
6 Saving Snape's Life
Even though James and Snape never liked each other, when Sirius takes a prank too far, James rushes to save Snape instead of letting tragic events unfold. When Sirius encourages Snape's curiosity about Remus' secret and the Whomping Willow, Snape goes on the night of a full moon. When James realizes what could happen, he hurries to Snape to save him.
Snape never shows the slightest inkling of being willing to save James' life if the opportunity had presented itself and considering in the film, Snape walks over James' body without a blink, it may be accurate to say he never would.
5 Becoming an Animagus
James goes beyond just supporting Remus as a werewolf. He, Sirius, and Peter go the extra mile to become illegal animagi to join Remus on full moons. Although the process may be long, it is worth it if it means being more present in one of the most painful experiences of Remus Lupin's life. James' animagus, a Stag, would later become Harry's Patronus.
4 Fighting Against Voldemort
One of the most significant differences between James and Snape was that James actively fought against Voldemort. Although Snape eventually became a double agent, it was never clear that his opinions about the wizarding world differed from Voldemort's. James, however, had fought against the Dark Lord three times beside Lily, one of the most significant factors that made Harry a candidate for the Prophecy. While James and Lily hurried to hide to protect their son, Snape was the one to deliver the overheard Prophecy to Voldemort.
3 Protecting His Family Without a Wand
Even though James did not have his wand on him when he had his final fight against Voldemort, that did not stop him from trying to protect Lily and Harry. He wanted to give them time to run, knowing that he could die in the process. Sadly, James and Lily were not able to escape the night alive. But, James' willingness to put his life on the line knowing that he may not survive because he wanted his loved ones to escape, is a heroic moment for him.
2 Sacrificing Himself
Snape seemed to believe there may have been a chance for him and Lily if she survived Voldemort's attack. It tends to go against Lily's character to think she would happily be with a man who would not care that her husband and son were killed. While James was willing to die for Lily, Snape hoped for her husband's death and resented her son for surviving the encounter. Although Snape protected Harry for Lily, he bullied and ridiculed Harry several times.
1 Trying to Protect Harry from Beyond the Grave
When Harry meets the ghosts of James and Lily in the graveyard following the Triwizard Tournament, they try to give Harry enough time to escape. Later on, they stand with him when Harry is prepared to die to kill the Horcrux inside him and protect everyone else from Voldemort's curses. Even Harry's Patronus, his father's animagus, can symbolize James wanting to protect his son, even if he can not be physically present.
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