The Prank on Snape

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 114359

Marla:
> So why can't Snape accept the fact that he really  does owe him 
a debt of gratitude and why does he really hate James so much 
 more than the others?<

James was co-leader of  the gang, and in Snape's mind he 
either knew what the others were up to or he should have done.  
In the same way, Snape blamed Harry when Neville blew up his 
cauldron in that first potions class. (This way of thinking is not 
limited to Snape. McGonagall also blamed Harry  for Neville's 
rule breaking in PS/SS.) 

Marla:

>One  more thing, I don't agree with the idea that Snape knew 
Lupin was a werewolf  before entering the tunnel.  He was still 
too curious to find out what was going on down there, what sane 
person would take such a risk. <

No sane person, of course, which leads me to conclude that 
Snape was tricked, jinxed or blackmailed into going down the 
tunnel.  That is why he so firmly believes that the Marauders 
were trying to murder him. As usual, Snape has correctly 
identified the crime but is blaming the wrong person-- IMO the 
only one who had murder in mind was EverSoEvil!Lupin. He was 
the only one whose life would have been ruined if  the werewolf 
outings were exposed and they were all expelled. 

The threat of punishment doesn't seem to hang heavily over 
Sirius or James in the Pensieve, and why should it? Having 
passed their OWLs they  would no longer lose their wands if they 
were expelled, and they both expected to inherit wealth so they 
didn't need to worry about their job prospects. But Lupin's family 
seems to  have exhausted its resources in searching for a cure. 
Dumbledore's trust was the only thing Lupin had going for him, 
and Snape was set to discover that Lupin had betrayed it.

Pippin