Don't make me hex you
(Anonymous)
A few canon points to add...one of the surest signs of an abusive James is his line to Lily in SWM of "Don't make me hex you" - it is almost word for word the abusive mate's mantra 'Don't make me hit you'. Not only would he hex her but it would be HER fault - all just because she wanted him to stop hexing Snape.
We even have young Harry worrying about James using a Love Potion on Lily.
And we know from one of Snape's memories that he believed James would/could 'fool' Lily. He tells Lily that James has everyone 'fooled' and then proceeds to say he won't let her .... (as in 'be' fooled most likely). Lily then shows here 'spunk' about Snape 'letting her' do anything. This suggests a very subtle use of manipulation on James' part. He could not have been overt about it - Lily reacts badly to overt instances of trying to control her (note she apparently saw Snape in that memory as wanting to control her rather than the alternative possibility for the end of that sentence - I won't let them fool you - or I won't let you be fooled)
Certainly Snape would worry about James abusing Lily. He didn't have a good parental example. Eileen was most likely abused (at least with threats of physical abuse - you don't generally cower from verbal abuse alone - you might deflate and be depressed from verbal abuse, but cowering suggests actual physical hitting).
I will disagree however with the idea that James was 'alpha'. I think he and Sirius probably were about 'even'. Note that on our new little 'prequel' that JKR just wrote for auction that James and Sirius were out either 'playing' at being Order members or had actually joined the Order during the summer before 7th year. Sirius would have had the money from Uncle Alphard by then and uses it to buy that motorcycle.
The bike is actually a smart idea (compared to a broom) for traveling around muggles - but it also narrows it down to only 2 people per adventure. No way Remus could go with them (since James' relationship with Remus was brought up as well)
So - just adding some canon points that support your ideas. -- Hwyla
We even have young Harry worrying about James using a Love Potion on Lily.
And we know from one of Snape's memories that he believed James would/could 'fool' Lily. He tells Lily that James has everyone 'fooled' and then proceeds to say he won't let her .... (as in 'be' fooled most likely). Lily then shows here 'spunk' about Snape 'letting her' do anything. This suggests a very subtle use of manipulation on James' part. He could not have been overt about it - Lily reacts badly to overt instances of trying to control her (note she apparently saw Snape in that memory as wanting to control her rather than the alternative possibility for the end of that sentence - I won't let them fool you - or I won't let you be fooled)
Certainly Snape would worry about James abusing Lily. He didn't have a good parental example. Eileen was most likely abused (at least with threats of physical abuse - you don't generally cower from verbal abuse alone - you might deflate and be depressed from verbal abuse, but cowering suggests actual physical hitting).
I will disagree however with the idea that James was 'alpha'. I think he and Sirius probably were about 'even'. Note that on our new little 'prequel' that JKR just wrote for auction that James and Sirius were out either 'playing' at being Order members or had actually joined the Order during the summer before 7th year. Sirius would have had the money from Uncle Alphard by then and uses it to buy that motorcycle.
The bike is actually a smart idea (compared to a broom) for traveling around muggles - but it also narrows it down to only 2 people per adventure. No way Remus could go with them (since James' relationship with Remus was brought up as well)
So - just adding some canon points that support your ideas. -- Hwyla