Snape vs. Sirius (and Life Debts)

[Ravenclaw Bookworm]

No: HPFGUIDX 127219


Bookworm:
> What we know is that Dumbledore told Harry that James had saved
> Severus' life. We have assumed he referred to the Prank, because
> Severus keeps accusing Sirius of trying to murder him. Is it
> possible we are being fooled - that this isn't the event Dumbledore
> referred to? Could there have been another time when James really
> did save Severus' life - from a real threat and not a prank?

Marianne:
<<sits stunned for several seconds>> Oh. Well. That would be a
kicker, wouldn't it? Let's say you're right, and the James/Severus
life debt arose from some other incident. Snape still thinks in PoA
that Sirius tried, at the age of 16, to kill him (Snape). So does
this mean that in addition to our much-discussed Prank, there was
another instance when Sirius said or did something to lead Snape into
potential mortal danger? Geez, if that's the case, no wonder Snape
still has that giant chip labeled "Black" on his shoulder!

Bookworm:
I was thinking more of a different kind of danger, not one that 
Sirius instigated.  Maybe an accident, or a stray charm gone 
awry...  

Marianne:
And, if JKR had led us astray, and there is still this hidden
incident, then perhaps that leads support to those who have
postulated that we've made too much of the Prank because Remus seems
to hold no lasting outrage or anger towards Sirius over how the
potential lethal outcome would have affected Werewolf!Remus.

Bookworm:
Considering how JKR describes LV as such an evil being but many 
readers see Lucius Malfoy as more frightening, maybe we as a group 
see the Prank in a different light than JKR and are over-reacting to 
it?!  <...a thought, not an accusation... no howlers, please ;-) >

Marianne:
OTOH, it would almost strike me as being a bit over-the-top for JKR
to now have to introduce a second major incident. Unless she's never
going to clear it all up for us, which I would find highly
unsatisfactory.

Bookworm:
IIRC, she said she would give us more info about it.  But I have 
commented before that I think some of her characters are more like 
caricatures, "over-the-top" stereotypes.  

Also, she is revealing just a little bit of info at a time.  We 
still don't know what happened with James between the scene with 
Snape after OWLs and the beginning of 7th year when he was made Head 
Boy. If he saved Snape's life in some way, Dumbledore and others 
would have seen that he was capable of putting the welfare of 
someone he hated ahead of his feelings toward that person.  To me, 
that would be a good recommendation for a position of leadership.

Ravenclaw Bookworm