TBAY: Remus isn't THAT nice - well.....(and Marauders)

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 39189

Pip said:
> "Oh, I don't think Remus is BAD. I have a little theory that all the 
> Marauders had some basic character flaw, and that one of the 
effects 
> Harry is having is to make them face that and overcome it."

Pippin overhears this conversation also. My, she thinks, this is 
very like  her venerable WOZ theory. [Snape, Lupin and Sirius 
have character flaws similar to Dorothy's companions in The 
Wizard of Oz. Snape has no heart, Lupin lacks courage, Sirius is 
thoughtless.] But Pip has a different take on which flaws go with 
which characters.

Dicentra maintains that Sirius is merely overconfident, while Pip 
insists that he is cowardly. But it is Lupin who's the coward, in 
fact he actually says so. And denial is definitely part of of that, 
IMO, though mostly these days he's in denial of his anger about 
being a werewolf and  having to be dependent on Dumbledore 
and worst of all Snape. 

I don't think Remus is BAD, I don't think Sirius is BAD, I don't 
even think Snape is BAD. But they have flaws, all of them, yes 
even dear sweet Lupin.

 I like the idea that Lupin was in denial about how dangerous he 
is as a werewolf, especially during the Marauders era. His words 
do have a tinge of the alcoholic, "Yes, I admit my drinking caused 
a problem but it won't happen *again.* "

That would fit in well with my  idea that he was in on the prank 
after all. It also makes sense that Sirius meant to be present. 
After all, what's the good of setting up a practical joke if you aren't 
there for the kill? 

Hypothetical sequence of events: [ Dicentra screams in horror 
and stops reading...Pippin uneasily looks in the direction of 
BigPaddle!Cindy and suggests adjourning the discussion to the  
ELVIRA lifeboat, where all shipwrecked theories find refuge. 
There may be a few Dementors around, courtesy of Cindy, but 
that's okay. Reliving old memories is what they're all about.]

 It's true that Lupin's account of events in the Shack makes it 
sound as if it was all Sirius's idea, but, well, it would be in 
character for Lupin to conceal that he was part of it. When has he 
ever admitted anything until he was forced to?

Hypothetical events marked with a *. Unasterisked events are 
canon.

5th year: The Marauders master the animagi stunt.

6th year: The Marauders have grown bolder and are leaving the 
shack.

Snape sees Lupin crossing the grounds toward the willow with 
Madame Pomfrey.

The Marauders become aware of this.

It seems all too certain that Snape's spying will eventually 
uncover their animagus status and they will all be thrown out of 
school.

*They are divided on how to handle it.

*James and Pettigrew think the game is up. 

 Sirius comes up with a plan.

 He will, as a 'prank', let Snape know how to get into the willow.

* When Snape enters he will see Remus and be so terrified he 
won't get near the willow again.

Snape will find out for sure about Lupin, but it seems that's going 
to happen anyway. 

If Snape tries to talk, Dumbledore will silence him.

 *Sirius confides only in Lupin.

He apparently doesn't tell James, who is pre-occupied with 
Quidditch and in line to be head boy if he doesn't get into too 
much more trouble.

Peter is, of course, useless.

*Lupin agrees because:

His moonlight adventures with his friends are the only thing that 
makes his life bearable.

*There won't be any real danger to Snape, he thinks, because 
Sirius will be there in dog form and can stop him from doing any  
damage. 

*If Snape sees transfigured Sirius it won't matter, he'll just think it 
was the Grim. 

*Perhaps Sirius plans to helps this along with a bit of 
phosphorescent potion splashed on his fangs ala The Hound of 
the Baskervilles.

* He allows Snape to see him as The Grim, thus  convincing 
Snape that his death is imminent and setting the stage for 
Snape to believe the prank was pre-meditated murder.

But something goes wrong.

* Perhaps Sirius gets detention.

 James finds out from someone  that Sirius told Snape how to 
get into the willow.

* The moon is brightening the horizon as James daringly...(well if 
I went on from here it would be fan fiction, so I'll stop.)

Pippin
waving at Pip, fellow Christie fan, and wondering what Miss 
Marple would make of all this.