Exorcizing the Prank

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 38805

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Edblanning at a... wrote:
> Finwitch:
 
> Canon actually states that they took less than ('the best part of') 
three 
> years to become animagi. Lupin says they achieved it in Fifth year. 
I think 
> the clear implication, assuming that Lupin tells his story 
chronologically, 
> is that they were, by the time of the Prank, although I'm not sure 
how 
> relevant it is, really.

I don't think it is relevant at all -- now that I rethink it. 

> An intriguing idea, but unfortunately contradicted by canon.
> Lupin says that Snape *saw* Madam Pomfrey leading him to the 
willow . The 
> text is slightly ambiguous, it *could* have been on an earlier 
occasion, 
> although I think the implication is that it was on the night of the 
Prank.
> James lending the invisibility cloak to Remus implies that Madam 
Pomfrey 
> knows that James, at least, knows Remus' secret and we have no 
canon evidence 
> of this. It also contradicts the canon evidence that Madam Pomfrey 
visibly 
> led Remus to the willow (and there is no indication that she shrank 
him or 
> anything else - in fact, this could have been quite useful, 
couldn't it? A 
> shrunken Remus could presumably have been contained quite easily!). 
Use of 
> the invisibility cloak is also contradicted by Lupin's statement 
that the 
> others used to sneak out of the castle under the invisibility cloak 
when they 
> went to visit him. 

Hmm... This *can* support my misunderstanding theory too.

Snape *saw* Lupin entering the corridor and at least one of the 
Marauders knew it. OK - PP was keeping watch as a rat or under 
invisibility cloak and saw Snape enter the corridor. He *still* can 
tell Sirius and James about 'Snape knowing'.

> Sorry, this all sounds terribly negative, but I do appreciate your 
brave 
> attempt to turn the Prank into a misunderstanding!  :-)

Oh but your commentary merely helps me to modify the details so far --
to *better* and more believable theory. No need for Peter's blunder 
for Snape to figure out how to get into the corridor. And about how 
Peter knew that Snape was there... well, he saw him! As a rat or 
under invisibility cloak or even both.

This new modification on details even leaves it to *Peter* to draw 
the conclusion that Snape knows about the Whomping Willow. Peter also 
*doubts* - but isn't certain - that Snape knows Remus' secret.

I'm also relieved not having to separate James and Sirius - All three 
wondering how to figure out if Snape knows the secret or not, without 
giving it out -- even so that *no one* overhearing will hear the 
secret. Difficult thing to do, with any secret. They'd discuss it in 
Hogsmeade, Three broomsticks. Even including Lily who may or may not 
know about Remus.

Snape enters and hears them discussing: "I wonder if Snape knows... 
the corridor..." "How could we find out without..." Definate call of 
interest. Group of people discuss *him* and his knowledge.
Being willing to shine in knowing something they don't (particularly 
to these people) he approaches them. (Snape's conspiracy theory 
including James to back this up!) 

Sirius is the one who asks the question. "Why you don't put out a 
stick ... and go past the Whomping Willow now?".
Snape goes to do that - throwing in a comment that he just *might* do 
it in order to win. Then he leaves and *does* go there.

Lily asks why not - and is told that it's extremely dangerous and 
thus out of bounds. A little discussion: "Do you think he's *going* 
there?" "Think he was just saying so" "What if he wasn't?"... 
Finally, James goes after Snape and Lily, followed by others, goes to 
inform Dumbledore.

 James saves Snape's life - 

Snape thinks that Sirius asked the question in order to get him 
killed in conspiracy with James who wanted to cancel the act;
Sirius thinks Snape *knew* all along and merely went there so that 
he'd get Remus killed because of being a danger to a student... (like 
Draco did with buckbeak);

Snape considering it a murder on *him* by Sirius Black, James Potter 
& possibly the others, which ended with his life-debt to James 
Potter; Sirius sees it as a murder on Remus by Snape for pleasure...

I'm not giving up the idea of the misunderstanding. It *does* put all 
of them in as positive light as possible, explains Snapes comments 
about James Potter getting away with breaking rules (being out of 
bounds that night); Big hatred between Sirius and Snape... As while 
Sirius isn't all that angry about unfair things done to himself, 
(like the lack of trial! He didn't seem to mind all that much to me 
when he told about it) but someone who dares to harm his *friends* 
makes him *extremely* angry, like PP actually harming James and 
presumably harming Harry; Or, to his mind - Severus Snape presumably 
having harmed Remus... Why Sirius feels no guilt on *that* but does 
about the switch--

Details may still need modification - but the general idea of a 
misunderstanding-- it's *still* just fine.

Would do as a compromise for Sirists and Snapists... misunderstanding 
that wasn't a fault of either one.

-- Finwitch