James/Stag in tunnel (was Re: Snape at Godric's Hollow

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 122485


 
Brothergib wrote:
snip
> 
> As for Snape's knowledge of the marauder's animagi capabilities - 
We  know that the Marauder's became Animagi to control Lupin in 
Werewolf  form. Therefore, if James saved Snape from Lupin, does it 
not follow  that he would have been the stag at this moment. I am 
sure that it  can't simply have been James telling Snape not to go 
down the tunnel. 
> I'm not sure Snape would regard that as saving his life. I think 
> James had to rescue Snape from immediate danger - i.e. he was the 
> stag to defend Snape from Lupin thus revealing himself to Snape. 
I'm  sure that would then be a powerful motivation for Snape to 
become an  animagi to prove he was just as capable.

Potioncat:
I thought I should take another look at this, to see if there was 
any room for interpretation.(Of course, there's always room for 
interpretation.)  On the last page of chp 18 of PoA, Remus is 
speaking:
"--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."

So, it sounds to me that James in boy form ran in after Snape and 
pulled him out. He would not have been at risk in stag form. It 
would seem that if James had been a stag, that information would 
have been revealed to DD during the "little chat" that surely 
followed. In addition, it does not appear that adult Snape knows 
about the amimagi abilities of the Marauders.

There was, once upon a time, discussion as to whether a stag could 
get through the tunnel, given how tight it is for humans. Many 
thought that James generally transfigured outside of the tunnel. 

Potioncat: who is going to brag now, Ahem. My teenagers got out of 
bed at 4:30am today to spend the day outdoors in the cold snow to 
serve as volunteers at the Inaugural events. Each going with his/her 
Scout troop. If you're watching and you see people in bright yellow 
coats...two of them are my kids.

Although this act of volunteerism represents service to country, it 
does not necessarily reflect the way anyone in the family voted. ;-)