Lupin and Boggarts (was Re: Lupin is Ever So Evil, Part One -- The Prank (LONG)

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 130137

Snipping a conversation between SSSusan and Pippin:
> > SSSusan:
> > I know we'll never agree on this, so I shouldn't even try, but....
> ;-)
> > 
> > You see that scene as Lupin hiding BEHIND Neville in order to 
> > embarrass Snape.  I see it as Lupin helping Neville STEP UP to take 
> > on Snape and return a bit of the humiliation Snape's forced him to 
> > take over the years.  While I think Lupin has some concerns where 
> > cowardice is involved, this scene never struck me as cowardly at
> all.

Potioncat:
Keep in mind, Neville identifies Snape as his biggest fear. The way you 
banish a Boggart which has assumed your strongest fear, is to turn it 
into something funny so that you can laugh at it. A long time ago I 
issued a challenge: how could Lupin have helped Neville, without making 
the Snape!Boggart funny. No one came up with a better solution. 
Anything that would have generated laughter, would have embarrassed 
Snape. Of couse, Lupin could have skipped Neville, but once he asked 
him, what was he to do?