Prank redux

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 34943

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> wrote:

snip of quite a nice summary of werewolf beliefs and Prank 
motivations.

 
> What I wonder is how Sirius got off. 

What do you mean? If you're saying that Sirius deserved to be 
expelled or sent off to Azkaban for this, obviously that didn't 
happen. But, we don't know from canon that he got clean away.  For 
all we know, he was a terrific Beater for his house Quidditch team 
and was removed from the team for the rest of his time at school.  Or 
he lost his house 500 points, thus causing them all chances to win 
the house cup. And, if his punishment was along the lines of the 
above, he would also have had to deal with the other members of his 
house being at least somewhat torqued off at him.  

Is it possible that he claimed 
> that  *he* didn't know Remus was a werewolf? "Yes, Professor 
> Dumbledore, I knew about the willow but I swear on Merlin's 
> grave I'd no idea at all about Remus, I mean, how could I? .... I 
> admit I wanted to get Snape in trouble. I thought if Snape got 
> caught near the Willow, Slytherin would lose some points but I 
> never dreamed...well, I suppose I've been  an idiot again, haven't 
> I. Lucky thing James knew. Good old James." (The spirit of 
> Merlin retaliates for this outrageous lie by dooming Sirius to 
> spend twelve years in Azkaban.) Sirius would have to have been 
> a splendid actor, but then we know he is, because he concealed 
> the rest of his Marauder antics in any case.
> 

Hmm.  I rather like this explanation, except for one thing.  With 
canon always telling us how close James and Sirius were, it seems 
unlikely that James would know about the tunnel and what was inside, 
and not tell Sirius.  So, if Dumbledore is willing to accept that 
James knew, I think he'd assume that there was at least a probability 
that Sirius knew, too.

Marianne, who thinks perhaps the spirit of Merlin is a bit on the 
harsh side!