worse than a vampire and Lupin's boggart

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 90157

(I think it was) Pippin wrote:
> > If Snape could become a cockroach as a teen he would have 
> > used this ability to escape the werewolf and the Prank as we 
> > know it wouldn't have happened. 
> > 
>x> > Someone else suggested that a cockroach would be  a far less 
> > ominous thing to find in the dark and dusty hall of prophecy.
> 

Carol wrote:
> Thank you, Pippin! As you know, I really like Snape (faults and all)
> and the idea of his being a cockroach animagus is simply revolting. 
It
> would ruin the books for me forever, far more than your vampire
> theory. But you're certainly right. If he could turn into a 
cockroach
> (or a bat, or any other kind of animal) he could have viewed
> werewolf!Lupin in perfect safety.
> 
> I've always thought that turning the boggart into a cockroach is his
> way of making his own boggart ridiculous. 
> 
> x And what would a werewolf fear
> more than the moon that would reveal his true identity?
> 


Potioncat here: I hope I'm posting this correctly!
I'm going to play Hermione and keep some of my findings to myself to 
protect the professor I like. I agree with you, Carol.

There is some significance to cockroaches and I hope I've found a 
better suggestion.  A jar bursts and cockroaches fall out, a silvery 
orb turns into a cockroach.  Perhaps cockroaches are and important 
part of the Wolfbane Potion (no wonder it tastes so bad) and Lupin 
can laugh that something so small and unimportant can defeat the 
power of the moon.

I do think Lupin's Boggart is the moon.  I think the prophecy orb was 
a red herring.

As for Snape being an amimagus, he could have learned how to do it 
after the Prank incident, particularly if that is when he discovered 
the significance of the nicknames.  However, if he does turn into a 
cockroach (and I do hope not) it's clear that Sirius doesn't know 
about it.

Potioncat