Questions about year 6: the Prank, the Marauders & Snape

[barbara_mbowen]

No: HPFGUIDX 80125

Many apologies if what I say has been discussed
before: I tried a Snape and werewolf search but the sheer 
volume of things not altogether pertinent wore me out.

So, please let me know if I'm stepping on your own
theory, and guide me to the post #.  I'd love to see
what others have thought on these subjects and revive
the discussion.

Okay, while waiting for JKR, here are the questions I
want answered.

The Marauders:  What happened to Sirius and James in
6th year?  This is the year Harry will be in book 6,
at age 16.  At 16 Sirius, newly become an animagus,
almost got Snape killed, and ran away from home.  At
15, James was a "berk" and Lily hated him.  At 17 he
was Head Boy and dating Lily.  I really want to know
in Book 6 what happened at age 16 to both of these
characters.

Sirius:  did almost getting Snape killed cause his
parents to go berserk and goad him into running away? 
Or, (more likely IMO seeing what creeps the Black
parents were) did they go berserk because their
pureblood boy was hanging out with a werewolf?  It's
no wonder Sirius did some awful things.  What's
miraculous (considering his background) is that he
ever did any good. (And hey, Black bashers, he *did*
do some good:  he was the only adult to offer Harry
unconditional love and support, something Harry
desperately needed.). For Sirius' salvation we can
thank James and Remus' friendship; and Dumbledore. 
The crux of all this is year 6, when they were 16.

Lupin:  why is he still Sirius' friend?  He might have
bitten Snape and turned him into a werewolf.  He might
have killed Snape.  In either case, what would have
happened to Lupin?  Azkaban?  Or a death sentence? 
Why has he forgiven Sirius?  Remus is an understanding
guy, but sheesh.  So, there must be something else we
don't know about that prank.

Which brings me to Snape.  Maybe he did get bitten. 
Then it would be logical that he knows (perhaps even
invented) the potion that keeps werewolves "safe".  It
would also explain why the prank got hushed up: 
Dumbledore now had two werewolves to protect. And it
could be why Remus, not Sirius, had the right to talk
to Snape about the Occlumency lessons.  It could also
explain why Snape went to Voldemort, then left him. 
Voldy is happy to exploit dark creatures, but his
agenda is: purebloods rule.  Not outcasts like
werewolves. It could also explain why Dumbledore
trusts Snape:  he saved Snape from exposure as a
werewolf and protects him at Hogwarts then and now.
Snape knows from experience that only a world where
Dumbledore has triumphed will be safe for him.  And
no, I don't think the fact that he "outed" Lupin in
book 3 contradicts this theory.  What could Lupin say?
 "Yeah, I'm a werewolf:  but so is he!  I bit him
right here at Hogwarts!"  (Besides, he needs that
potion of Snape's...he can't out Snape, or Snape would
never give it to him again.) Snape's bitterness would
be all the more understandable.

And so, my thought is that the mutual love and
friendship of the Marauders "saved" them from becoming
evil.  There's got to be a lot of that for Lupin to
forgive Sirius, and for James to transcend what he was
at 15.  (With some sympathetic guidance from DD, of
course.)  I think this points right toward Harry's
sixth year, and his friendships with Ron, Hermione,
and I hope Luna and Neville.  Snape glowers in the
corner, a man who cut himself off from such intense
friendships.  If he is to be saved, he needs to
connect, somehow, with Harry, with *someone*.

Oh, and hey.  We *will* meet Stubby Boardman in book
6, I can feel it!  He *is* Regulus Black!  More on
that theory when I'm less exhausted by this one.

Marmelade Mom, off to feed her zoo, none of whom are
Kneazles