How did Snape see Lupin the night of the Prank?

[Steve <bboy_mn@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 50735

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)
<catlady at w...>" <catlady at w...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Maria Kirilenko wrote:
> 
> << So, do we stick to the idea that no one saw any need to install a 
> door, and Snape saw Lupin through the open hole, pacing in the room 
> above? >>
> 
> I've always imagined that there was a thick-ish wooden door blocking 
> the trapdoor but Werewolf!Lupin, driven mad by the scent of human, 
> scratched and bit at it, and clawed enough of an opening for Snape to 
> glimpse a silhouette of wolf snout, and put two and two together.

bboy_mn:

I haven't been following this thread that closely, so sorry, if this
has already been covered.

Like all problems that we don't seem to be able to resolve, the answer
is, of course, Magic.

I have no doubt that there are barrier charms. That seems like a
pretty straight forward charm to me. So the Shrieking Shack could have
an EXIT barrier charm, that is synchronized with the phases of the
moon. When the moon approaches full, the barrier charm blocks any
attempts to exit the house, which includes exiting through a hole in
the floor. 

Now there would be no need to use a barrier charm for ENTRANCE to the
house because the only entrance is blocked by the Whomping Willow.
Plus, it may be an automatic charm that grows stronger as the full
moon approaches rather than switching ON at the full moon. So, to
prevent any resistance to Lupin getting in, the barrier charm is one
way. Once he's in, he can't get out until the moon phase passes and
the barrier charm weakens.

So, that would leave us with a way for Snape to see Lupin, who may
have come over to the hole to investigate a noise he heard or a scent
he picked up. Lupin can't get beyond the barrier, but if James hadn't
stopped Snape, he could have entered the house. Once he entered, once
he went past the barrier charm, Snape would have been trapped in the
house with Wolf!Lupin with no means of escape.

The easiest answer is always... Magic.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn