The Prank in DH (was Re: Predictions for the End (what I think, hope and know)

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 167307

> Alla:
> 
> Would it be a big surprise for the reader though? I mean, Snape is 
> pretty sure that they tried to kill him, is he not?
> 
> I mean, the possibility is firmly in reader's mind already IMO. So 
> far it looks like one of the two things to me - either a reckless 
> prank or premeditated murder and both possibilities are hinted in 
the 
> text, no?

zgirnius:
Based on my participation in this and other forums for online fan 
discussion, it seems to me few fans believed that James Potter was 
ever an arrogant so-and-so (I know I had no suspicions about it as a 
reader). "Snape's Worst Memory" in OotP came as a shock to them, and 
me, as it did to Harry. To the extent that some still have trouble 
seeing the scene in this way. But the scene was well-telegraphed by 
Snape's comments since PoA. Snape is just not trusted by most readers 
as a reliable source on the Marauders (quite reasonably, I know *I* 
would not trust his interpreations of their actions). I do not 
believe that his having been proved correct in one aspect has made 
Snape that much more reliable in the eyes of the readers.

The Marauders tend to be (quite unreasonably, in my view) considered 
as reliable sources on their own activities, and even Snape's, though 
the latter observation is not relevant to my argument. The Marauders 
(mostly through Lupin's exposition in PoA) have weighed in regarding 
the Prank:
- Sirius had no intention to kill Snape, 'Sirius thought it would be -
  er -- amusing' to tell Snape, it was meant as a joke
- Lupin had no idea what was going on (or why would he blame Sirius  
  alone?)
- and James did not either (since he 'heard what Sirius had done').

It is therefore my opinion that this is the most common fan belief 
about the Prank. It also happens to be mine, though not, as it 
happens, because Lupin said so.

The revelation that Sirius (and *especially* James) planned to murder 
Snape by werewolf in a premeditated set-up would be absolutely 
shocking to me; far more that the Worst Memory was. I can only 
imagine that fans less fond of Snape than I, and more fond on the 
Marauders, would find it even more shocking.