[HPforGrownups] Harry's detention - James saved Snape's life incident

[Lisa Williams]

No: HPFGUIDX 135998

> Alla says:
> 
 
> I would like some canon please about the assumption that Sirius
> neglected to tell Snape about the fact that Lupin was a werewolf. In
> fact, I would like canon on what EXACTLY Sirius told Snape. :-)
> 
> Oh, and not Remus words, please, because to me it is quite clear that
> if Snape figured out who remus was before going to Shack, he would
> not tell Remus those interesting news. :-)> 
===================================
Lisa responds:

Well, you can't ask for a canon quote and then pick and choose what
you'll accept -- canon is canon.  And it is as follows:

PoA, hardcover Am. version, pg. 285:
"And did the headmaster tell you the circumstances in which your
father saved my life?" he whispered.  "Or did he consider the details
too unpleasant for precious Potter's delicate ears?"
Harry bit his lip.  He didn't know what had happened and didn't want
to admit it - but Snape seemed have have guessed the truth.
"I would hate for you to run away with a false idea of your father,
Potter," he said, a terrible grin twisting his face.  "Have you been
imaginging some act of glorious heorism?  Then let me correct you --
your saintly father and his friends played a highly amusing joke on me
that would have resulted in my death if your father hadn't got cold
feet at the last moment.  There was nothing brave about what he did. 
He was saving his own skin as much as mine.  Had their joke succeeded,
he would have been expelled from Hogwarts."
and
PoA, pg. 356:
" ... you see, Sirius here played a trick on him which nearly killed
him, a trick which involved me -- "
Black made a derisive noise.
"It served him right," he sneered.  "Sneaking around, trying to find
out what we were up to ... hoping he could get us expelled ... ."
"severus was very interested in where I went every month," Lupin told
Harry, Ron and Hermione.  "We were in the same year, you know, and we
-- er -- didn't like each other very much.  He especially disliked
James.  Jealous, I think, of James's talent on the Quidditch field ...
anyway Snape had seen me crossing the grounds with Madam Pomfrey one
evening as she led me toward the Whomping Willow to transform.  Sirius
thought it would be -- er -- amusing, to tell Snape all he had to do
was prod the knot on the tree trunk with a long stick, and he'd be
able to get in after me.  Well, of course, Snape tried it -- if he'd
got as far as this house, he'd've met a fully grown werewolf -- but
your father, who'd heard what Sirius had done, went after Snape and
pulled him back, at great risk to his life ... Snape glimpsed me,
though, at the end of the tunnel.  He was forbidden by Dumbledore to
tell anybody, but from that time on he knew what I was ... ."
"So that's why Snape doesn't like you," said Harry slowly, "because he
thought you were in on the joke?"
"That's right," sneed a cold voice from the wall behind Lupin.
Severus Snape was pulling off the Invisibility Cloak, his wand
pointing directly at Lupin.

::::big deep breath::::

So -- here we have Snape's and Lupin's versions of what happened --
and Sirius present, who didn't correct the story as it was told, but
rather showed no remorse whatsoever.  Speaks volumes.


Alla says:
> OK, I have to ask that question again - how exactly did Sirius SENT
Snape to Shack? Did he tied him up? Did he put him under Imperio?
> Don't you think that Snape bares at least some share of
responsibility for going there in the first place?
> Oh, and here is my favorite question of all times why would Snape
stop and listen to ANYTHING Snape says?
> Don't you think that Snape, smart as he is would view anything Sirius says as suspect?

Lisa responds:
1.  See above quoted reference from PoA.
2.  Yes, Snape should not have been in a restricted area.  But no,
that does not excuse nor change the fact that he was purposely placed
in danger.
3.  No, I don't think anyone bears responsibility for being nosy, or
being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I don't buy the "blame
the victim" mentality.
4.  If you mean why would Snape listen to anything SIRIUS says, I'd
say because he's desperate to find out what they're doing in there.
5.  Sure.  But how on earth can one claim that Sirius' only fault here
is being a "reckless teen," but when Snape is a reckless teen, it
serves as an excuse for his possible death?


Lisa/SassyMomOfThree