How did Snape see Lupin the night of the Prank?

[finwitch <finwitch@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 50760

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve <bboy_mn at y...>" 
<bboy_mn at y...> wrote:
> --- "Judy " wrote:
> > 
> > I like the idea of an invisible barrier.  Instead of the
> > one-way barrier that you describe, how about a regular (two-way)
> > invisible barrier, that could be opened with an easy spell such as
> > "Alohamora"?  
> > 
> > ...edited...
> > 
> > -- Judy

> bboy_mn replied:
> 
> You got it! I think that is the perfect solution. The charm wouldn't
> have to be anything special, just a standard common barrier charm. I
> think it's pretty safe to say, that as long as Lupin was a werewolf,
> he couldn't cast any spells. So HE was trapped until he became a
> wizard again. Brilliant, I like it.

Finwitch:

Yes, an easy spell that wizard-Remus would cast, easy enough for him 
to know before Hogwarts. Alohomora would do the trick all right. 
Whomping Willow was planted there to block away any overly curious 
students. His howls gave the haunted-house reputation to the 
Shrieking Shack etc. The Forbidden Forest gained the werewolf-legend 
due to Moony, Padfoot, Prongs and Wormtail, I suppose - unless there 
were _other_ werewolves (who knows?).

Snape learned of how to pass Whomping Willow from Sirius (who just 
_might_ have been telling Wormtail about it...)
Say..
"How'd _he_ pass the WW?" (After all, the little rat had opened the 
passage for them so he had no idea how Remus did that)
"All he'd have to do was to press the knot with a stick.." (Sirius 
talking, Snape hears him - Sirius notices Snape just a bit too late. 
He then seeks James' councel - James goes in to save Snape...

Also, Snape knew that Black was talking to _someone_ about the 
passing the Whomping Willow. Assuming that someone was Potter, he 
then blamed the two of them. It was either Pettigrew's trick against 
Snape, or simply an accident that Snape heard them.
Dumbledore took the accident-explanation - so James is rewarded for 
saving Snape's life and no penalties for the Gryffindors. (Who 
probably regretted their open talking as it was, Sirius in 
particular).

Perhaps James Potter had learned a make-the-one-owing-you-his-life-do-
something (Keeping Remus' Secret). Snape believes that James plotted 
the whole thing, he's given the kids information about werewolves, 
wishing that someone would make it out - he never told anyone between 
leaving Hogwarts and being employed there.

This thing works this way, I believe:
The creditor of Life-debt can cast one obligation that would be 
magically binding unless the one in debt manages to pay up. This 
obligation can be changed under certain rules. If the creditor dies, 
the latest obligation remains permanent so long as the life-debtor 
lives.

If James Potter placed the first obligation on Snape as 'keep Remus' 
secret' changed it later to 'Fight against Voldemort' - Snape would 
definately be against Voldemort.

It might be that Harry can make Pettigrew take a stand for Sirius 
using this method, but he hasn't learned how yet.

-- Finwitch