when did the prank take place?

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 83287

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "arrowsmithbt" 
<arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:

 
> 1. When in their school careers did the 'Prank' take place?

> I surmised that it took place sometime before their final year and 
also
> before the 'underwear episode'. Laura wonders whether it happened
> even further back, pre-Animagi, not something I  had considered. 
> (VG and A+ grade to Laura.) This would make it even more 
interesting.

I doubt it happened that early.  And I'm basing that on Snape's words 
to Dumbledore in PoA regarding Sirius, saying that he "showed himself 
capable of murder at sixteen."  Granted, he didn't spell it out for 
us, but unless there were *two* incidents where Snape felt his life 
was in danger, then I have to think he's referring to "the prank" 
here.

> If the Gang knew about Remus being incarcerated in the Shack, but 
were 
> not yet able to master the Animagus transformation, it was probably
> much earlier than we have previously surmised. Perhaps their third 
> or fourth year - does that sound reasonable? Before then it would be
> unlikely that they had enough magical training under their belts to
> attempt the spell, later than that and there might not be enough 
time
> for Pettigrew to finally  master the trick (he supposedly took a 
long time
> to learn it) and for other associated events to have taken place.

Remus says in Capter 18 PoA that the boys managed the Animagus 
transformation in their 5th year. 

> 2. What if the 'Prank' was the first overt clash between Snape and 
the Gang?

Not if it took place when they were 16...

And, if we assume that Dumbledore spoke the truth to Harry in PoA 
(don't swallow your tongue, Kneasy!), then he (DD) didn't know about 
it and thus, probably didn't actively encourage WPP in their 
efforts.  I know, he spent time dropping all sorts of hints in their 
hearing and then turned a blind eye to whatever they might have been 
up to...

Marianne