Hi again! Your comments are always welcome. ) And I certainly don't see this one as an attack. You were simply clarifying something that needed to be clarified. But I just want to clarify something, as well - it was Sigune, not I, who initially thought Severus was essentially a sociopath, with no moral compass of his own. I never really believed this. For awhile, after DH, I did think she was right to say that Severus seemed to be "borrowing" his moral compass from Lily. But it is also quite clear that, by the time we get to the events of HBP and DH, he had fully internalized a moral compass and was quite capable of reacting in a normal, human way.

Basically, then, I agree with you. Thanks for defining so clearly what a sociopath/psychopath actually is; I do agree Severus does not fit that definition, especially because he is capable of empathy. And I agree, very strongly, that from a young age Severus has a strong sense of justice. He's really about the best person in these books, with the possible exception of Neville.

It's late now, and I'm not very coherent, but thanks for reading! I do wonder what Rowling meant by presenting Harry and the Marauders so uncritically and Severus so critically. It's weird.