Ungrateful Werewolf

[Judy]

No: HPFGUIDX 175602

Frumenta said:

> Finding out that the Prank had been before Snape's Worst Memory I 
> was also surprised that the Marauders didn't worry about Snape 
> revealing Lupin's status.
> But the thing is, it is canon that Dumbledore had made Snape 
> promise not to tell, presumably under threat of expulsion....
> Snape is made to keep the secret, threatened or possibly 
> magically bound so that he is not even able to utter it. And on top 
> of everything, the Marauders gang up on him and pants him. He 
> obviously can't do much there, he went to Dumbledore accusing them 
> of murder and got punished himself.

I considered the possibility that Snape was magically bound to 
prevent him from revealing Lupin's lycantrophy, but I rejected it.  
In PoA, Snape *does* reveal that Lupin is a werewolf. If Snape had a 
spell on him that prevented him from revealing that Lupin was a 
werewolf, he wouldn't have been able to reveal the secret in PoA, not 
unless Dumbledore had lifted the spell. And, I don't see why 
Dumbledore would have lifted the spell. So, I assume it was never 
there in the first place. 

We know that Snape has trouble controlling his temper, and things 
(like "filthy little Mudblood") just slip out. So, the Marauders are 
running one heck of a risk in tormenting him after the Prank.

Frankly, I think JKR just didn't think this one out.

Lanval:
> If you want to argue this from a moral standpoint, yes, it was
> reckless, stupid, and dangerous... and Snape was even MORE stupid
> and reckless to actually follow Sirius' advice, *knowing* there was
> a WEREWOLF lurking inside!! Which has now become canon, yay. I
> didn't type my fingers to shreds for nothing, arguing for it. *g*

It's not canon that Snape knew Lupin was a werewolf.  He had SOME 
theory as to why Lupin was ill at the full moon, but we were never 
told what that theory was.  I argued for another possibility in post 
#175440:
"Maybe there are illicit potions (illegal drugs?) that can only be 
brewed at the full moon; we've seen plants that can only be harvested 
at the full moon. Maybe Snape never considered that Lupin could be a 
werewolf, because the idea of inviting a *werewolf* into a school 
full of children seemed just too outrageous. (Think of Draco's horror 
in HBP when he realizes he's let Fenrir Greyback into the school, 
even though he's happy to let other Death Eaters in.)
Maybe Snape thought Lupin was either pretending to be sick so he 
could slip out and make illicit potions, or was actually sick as a
result of using them. Madame Pomfrey walking with Lupin to the
Whomping Willow could have been interpreted as her bringing an
antidote for someone who had overdosed -- we know Madame Pomfrey's
supposed to be good about not reporting illegal magic use. Frankly,
Snape's suspecting that Lupin was a werewolf doesn't make sense to
me. If Snape suspected that, then going into the Willow would be
really dumb -- and whatever else Snape is, he isn't dumb."


Frumneta said that Snape:
> knows what Sirius is capable 
> of doing and treating as a mere joke. He knows that Remus is 
> dangerous. They are Gryffindors, charming, good in sports and the 
> rest. They have much better access to his friend and the House 
> divide is already taking her away from him. Is he a jerk for not 
> dropping Mulciber and Avery on the spot once she complains? Perhaps 
> but he's only a kid and friends are important esp. with enemies 
> like her oh, so brave housemates around.

Interesting point.  I was sympathetic to Snape's not wanting to drop 
his friends, because he'd be so socially isolated if he did.  But, 
this is another good reason for him to keep Avery and Mulciber 
around -- he's be more vulnerable to bullying if he had no friends in 
Slytherin. Still, I think Snape would have dropped his Slytherin 
friends if he had realized he had to choose between them and Lily. 
But, I think he didn't realize this until it was too late and Lily 
had already given up on him.

-- JudySerenity