when did the prank take place?

[sachmet96]

No: HPFGUIDX 83251

> SilentJim:

> Very Interesting! I'll have to go and do some reading but it 
certainly
> sounds plausible. It would also clear up another problem. We are 
told that
> James risked his life to save Snape from Remus and the issue has 
been raised
> that James didn't really risk his life because he could turn into a 
huge
> stag. 
> 
> If the prank took place after the Marauders found out about remus' 
secret but before they became Animagi (Is that the right 
pluralisation?) it would cast the event in a different light.

sachmet96
I always asumed it happened after pensive 2 as I can't see Severus 
not telling anyone of Lupin's condition if the memory in pensive 2 
was really his worst, which I suppose it can be if they really did 
take of his pants (but we don't know if they did).
But if the prank happened before they became Animagi it would mean 
that Sirius didn't only endanger Snape's life willingly but also 
James', his close friend. As Sirius is a friend of James he surely 
would have known James' character enough to know that he would try to 
get Snape out of danger should he learn about the prank.  
It would explain the life debt though, but not even I who doesn't 
like Sirius, can see him endangering James like that, esp as they 
were very close friends. On the other hand Remus is also his friend 
and he could have made him into a murderer.
This actually makes me think that the dog (Grim) is a very apropriate 
animal for Sirius as it's sign of death, isn't it?

> A possible supporting fact to this is that we are told 
Prongs/Wormtail &
> Padfoot prowled the forest and grounds with Remus on full moon 
nights but
> the prank is described with Remus alone in the shack.

sachmet96:
James could have been on his way to Remus (this means he already was 
an Animagus) that's why he was in time to save Snape. We don't know 
where Sirius and Peter were at that time, do we? They could have been 
standing outside.
Does anyone know how long it would take to get from Gryffindor tower 
(where I suppose they would have been if they were not Animagi) to 
the willow?