Details of the "Prank" (WAS Re: LV's bigger plan (was:Fawkes possible absence))

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 166354

zgirnius wrote:
> I have two suggestions about James's supposed risking of his life. 
The first is that the tunnel is described as low and narrow. (The 
Trio, as 13-year-olds, are unable to walk through it without bending
double). James's likely Animagus form is the rather large Scottish
Deer, an animal 4+ feet high at the shoulder (1,2 m for non-US 
readers) and possessing an impressively wide rack of antlers. It 
seems to me that if he transformed in the tunnel, he might get stuck.
> 
> I know it is said the Marauders entered the tunnel in Animagus form,
but I find it plausible that this detail might be wrong, and James may
have needed to transform outside and wait, or come in behind Sirius in
human form. Lupin was fondly reminiscing, not giving a detailed
technical account, after all. (And he would have no direct memory
anyway, as he would have been a werewolf at the time).
> 
> The other is to propose simply that James's life was not at risk, 
precisely because he had the option to transform. Lupin could be 
exaggerating, or not thinking it through, and Dumbledore, at the time
he discusses the matter with Harry, has no idea that James was an 
Animagus. The point of the story is more that Snape's life was at 
risk, and James saved him. It would still make the act meaningful. 
After all, who believes Harry was at risk when he saved Peter? But
that was a heroic gesture anyway.

Carol responds:
I agree that James wasn't really at risk. What I don't understand is
*how* he saved Severus's life. He couldn't have cast any hexes or
jinxes on Remus that Severus couldn't also have cast (he's the kid who
knew more curses at eleven that most seventh-years). And he certainly
couldn't have transformed into a stag and, say, carried Severus off on
his antlers, because, as you say, there wasn't room to transform and
Severus would have informed Dumbledore. So exactly did he do that
Severus couldn't have done himself? Did he just warn him that Remus
was a werewolf and yell "Run?"

Dana wrote:
> > Another is of course where were the others? They are supposed to
be running with Lupin every month. <snip>
> 
zgirnius responded:
> There could be some reason they were not going that night (I dunno,
 Peter or Sirius had a cold or something...), or Snape could have 
showed up before the Marauders. <snip>

Carol notes:
Or Snape could be right that James was in on the so-called Prank and
got cold feet at the last minute. Makes sense to me, especially given
what we've seen of James's treatment of Severus and his nasty sense of
humor as a teenager.

Carol, who agrees with the rest of zgirnius's post