OOP: Snape's memory

[ewdotson]

No: HPFGUIDX 61653

I just had a thought about the chapter "Snape's Worst Memory".  
There's been a lot of wondering why precisely this, of all Snape's 
possible memories, this one was the worst.  There's a line in the 
chapter, pg. 642 of the US version, where Harry describes Lupin 
as "He was rather pale and peaky (was the full moon approaching?"  

A theory:  Had present!Snape waited just another minute or two to 
show up, Sirius would have chimed in hissing something along the 
lines of, "Hey, Snivellus.  Want to something *really* neat?  Just 
poke that big knob on the Whomping Willow tonight and follow the 
secret passage."  Which would jive pretty well with what we know 
about The Prank.  (And the timing.  We know that James had to have 
shaped up remarkably in his 6th year if we're to assume that JRK 
didnt make a mistake with him being Head Boy.  If it was The Prank 
that made James realize he had to straighten up, it would make sense 
for it to occur towards the end of his 5th year.)  Anyways, this 
would mean the memory was so awful for Snape not only because he was 
humiliated in front of MWPP and Lily but also because he stupidly 
decided to walk off to his own death.