Sirius and Prank again? Fools Rush in where Wisemen Fear to Go

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 129889

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "a_svirn" <a_svirn at y...> wrote:

> A_svirn 
> 
> Whether Sirius said it outright, or staged the conversation for 
> Snape to overhear, doesn't really matter, now does it? He did intend 
> to feed him to a werewolf and how he'd brought it about is of a 
> secondary importance. Was it a prank or a murder attempt? Depends of 
> your idea of fun, I suppose. But what I find more disturbing about 
> the whole business is the fact that he tried to use his friend to do 
> his dirty work for him, to turn Lupin's misfortune to his advantage. 
> He betrayed Lupin in every possible sense, unless of course Lupin 
> was in on a joke which is highly improbable. 
> 
> a_svirn

bboyminn:

OK, you've heard my 'Reverse Psychology' and 'I told you so'
scenarios, now let me propose a third, and I do this because I want
everyone to consider Snape's own culpability in these events.

Scenario - The Lily Ploy

Sirius approaches Snape and says... I have a message for you from
Lily. Go to the Whomping Willow at midnight, prode the knot on the
tree with a stick and it will freeze. That will allow you to enter the
tunnel under the tree. Lily said she would meet you at the far end of
the tunnel.


How does Sirius's and Snape' culpability in that last scenario compare
to the first two? 

In the first two, Sirius knows Snape will act on the information, but
Sirius doesn't send Snape into the tunnel. Snape comes to that
conclusion and makes that decision on his own. 

In this more recent scenario Sirius intentionally causes Snape to
enter the tunnel on false pretenses. He flat out SENDS Snape into the
tunnel. It is done by deceit and false pretenses. 

In this last case, it's reasonable and expected for Snape to go. In
the first two examples, and especially in the 'I told you so' example,
Snape is acting totally counter to what he has been told. In the 'I
told you so case', Snape is specifically told NOT to go into the tunnel. 

We all agree that in all cases, Sirius's actions were wrong, but in
this last case, they were they were far more wrong. In the first two
cases Snape must take a much greater share of the blame, but in the
last case, while Snape must accept some blame, his part is much
smaller. Restated, in the first two cases, Sirius INDIRECTLY aids in
someone putting themselves in harms way. In the last case, Sirius flat
 out and directly puts Snape in harms way.

I have to believe you can see the moral difference in these cases, and
further have to believe you can see the degree of shift in blame. In
no case is anyone blameless, but in the first two cases, a greater
share of the blame falls on Snape.

Part of my point is that without the details, we can't be sure to what
degree each of the player deserves blame. So, without details, I
personally think that any references by third parties to 'murder' are
over the top.

Just one man's opinion.

Steve/bboyminn