What does Snape owe Harry?

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 96784

 
> Finwitch:
> I think that a certain death if not for the saviour is required.
>           
> James was NOT in on the 'trick'. He did save Snape's life - (and 
I'm 
> pretty sure it was because he couldn't let anyone DIE, rather than 
> thinking of Sirius/Remus getting expelled for it... I think Lily 
> began to like him better after that, though!) - at the risk of his 
> own acc. AD (then again, James Potter was animagus, which AD 
didin't 
> know, but there WAS a risk of people finding out about Prongs as he 
> was saving Snape...)
> 
> (Btw, I don't think it works if you put someone in danger in order 
to 
> save them - as Snape tries to claim James did...)


Potioncat:
As I understand the prank, Sirius tricked Snape into going into the 
tunnel, knowing Lupin had transformed.  James went after Snape and 
saved him just in time.  No one had transfigured into their animagus 
forms.  Therefore the animagi ability wasn't revealed.

Snape claims that James saved Snape to protect himself and his 
friends.  That is, had Snape been killed, the Marauders would have 
been in trouble. Snape seems to think James knew Sirius was going to 
trick Snape. I don't remember Snape saying that James had put him in 
danger in order to save him. Or do I misunderstand your point?

Regardless of motivation, James saved his life and he owes him a 
debt.  
Potioncat