A Sirius Defense (and more Snape, naturally)

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 35016

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Penny & Bryce <pennylin at s...> wrote:

> cindysphynx wrote:
> 
> <snip very amusing & plausible theory of how the Prank really
happened>
> 
> > 
> > Cindy (not mentioning the fact that she also likes the theory
because
> > it makes Snape look like a screw-up again)
> 
> I like any scenario wherein Snape looks worse than Sirius.  <g>

Much as I hate to pick nits in an otherwise amusing and plausible
theory, I must point out that it relies on the assumption that Snape
is hopelessly incompetent at sneakiness and surveillance, which is
contradicted by his status as someone who spied on Voldemort and lived
to be grumpy about it.

Here's another theory to throw into the mix: Snape was specifically
trying to find out how to get past the Whomping Willow (hence Sirius'
mention of him nosing around), and he knew, from six-odd years of
observation, that if you get Sirius sufficiently pissed off he'll
blurt out things he'd otherwise not say.  So Snape picks a verbal
fight with Sirius, mentions the Willow in the course of it, and
Sirius, right on cue, blurts out the information.  

I like this theory because it spreads the blame around both to Snape
(who shouldn't have poked his big nose in where it didn't belong) and
to Sirius (who should've kept his big mouth shut).  As a fan of both
S-men, I'm always partial to theories that make them both look like
jerks. <G>

>  C'mon 
> Snape-fans, you've got to concede that your man Snape really really 
> lacks interpersonal skills hugely.  

Oh, totally.  The man's obnoxious and anti-social.  But these are
qualities that bug me to no end in real life, yet utterly fail to
bother me in fictional characters.  In fact, as long as the character
carries off his obnoxiousness with some panache (and Snape certainly
does *that*), I'm likely to love him all the more for it.

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com