The Prank (Was: Re: Rulebreaking (Official Philip Nel Question #6) (Take #1))

[booklovinggirl]

No: HPFGUIDX 38525

Quote Penny:

>> Well, I am a serious Sirius fan, and while I don't speak for all 
of us, I can say that I've not heard it referred to as "just a 
childish prank" that should be excused on the grounds that Sirius was 
too young or immature to understand what he was doing.  
What I do think most of us would say is: We don't know too terribly 
much about the underlying circumstances that led to The Prank, and 
*really* we don't know too awfully much about The Prank itself when 
you get right down to it.  So, my principal argument on this score is 
that there is not enough information to make an informed judgment one 
way or another.  IMO of course.  We've no idea what Snape did to 
incite Sirius to pull the Prank; I don't think I'm alone in supposing 
it is most unlikely that Sirius did it for no reason at all.
<snip>
So, does he have a blind spot with respect to Snape, or maybe, just 
possibly, is there more to The Prank than we the readers yet know?<<

I must confess to taking a view akin to no reason. I believe that 
Sirius was having a bad day and Snape asking about and likely 
insulting Remus didn't do anything to help. So during they're third 
class together, Sirius turns around and says, "Well, why don't you 
find out for yourself, Snape?" and proceeds to give him directions 
into the Willow.

But this, I feel, is not the most important part. The most important 
part is that Sirius didn't go after Snape even after he'd had 
sufficient time to cool down. We know that Sirius isn't a coward, and 
so not rescuing Snape can't be out of fear. (He would be afraid, but 
he wouldn't let it affect him.)

Sirius hated Snape too much to bother to get him from the tree. James 
had to intervene.

But we're forgetting the last factor: Remus. Even if Sirius hated 
Snape too much to go after him, why didn't he consider Remus? They'd 
been friends for at least 5 years, and even if they hadn't been, 
anyone would have felt betrayed and angry. Sirius used Remus to get 
Snape, and even if he just did it out of frustration, after he cooled 
down he should have gotten Snape if only for Remus's sake. Suppose 
Snape HAD been killed? What would that have done to Remus?

So, in conclusion, I have to agree with Penny. There is more to the 
Prank that has been portrayed so far.

-Katherine