Headmaster for a day (was Prank WAS :Re: CHAPDISC: DH33, The Princ

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 184946

Alla:
> 
> Maybe we will finally get to the crux of the matter for me. So, here 
> is the follow up question. How can **anybody** think that if somebody 
> gives them the information, dangerous information to be sure, but 
> information how to get to the place where I want to go myself, is 
> planning on killing them. Meaning, that no matter what that other 
> person gives me, without **me going** their plans are **not going to 
> happen**, ever. So, I think I would be biggest hyppocrite on earth if 
> I would dare to say that other person tried to get me killed. Does it 
> make sense?

Ceridwen:
I guess I'll join the parade of "for examples."  I do like the
landmine one, though.

We know that Snape saw Madam Pomphrey take Remus to the willow.  We
know that Snape suspects Remus is a werewolf.  I think we can extend
that to a safe assumption that Snape also saw the Marauders enter the
tunnel after Madam Pomphrey left, then saw them alive and well in
school the next day.  This can do one of two things - either Snape
will doubt that Remus is indeed a werewolf, thereby wanting proof one
way or the other all the more, or Snape will assume that there are
protective measures in place that protect the Marauders.  Snape does
well in DADA.  Shortly after the Prank we see him writing reams on his
DADA exam.  He will know that a werewolf cannot differentiate between
friend and foe during transformations and so will assume that either
a) he is wrong or b) there are safeguards in place.

To give my own example, suppose there is a tunnel near enough to your
house that you can see its entrance if you sit at a particular window.
 You suspect there is methane in the tunnel.  This makes you nervous -
methane is highly flammable and explosive.  You want to know about
this because you don't want to die in a fiery explosion.  You don't
want your friends to die.  You see workers entering the tunnel at
certain times (Madam Pomphrey), but as city workers you assume they
have safety equipment.  When these workers leave for the day, another
group of local people (Marauders) come along and enter the tunnel. 
You may see them leave it later, or you may see them the next day
alive and well and suffering no ill effects from methane poisoning. 
You know there is a gate, you know the city workers probably have a
key, but you know these people are not city workers.  You want to know
what is happening down there.

One of these local people, someone you don't care for and you know
doesn't care for you, tells you there is an uneven space near the gate
latch which allows them to push through without using a key.  He tells
you that you will find the answers to your questions if you go through
on the second Thursday or third Friday of the month.

You have no reason to believe this person wishes you well, but you
have seen with your own eyes that this person and his friends have
gone into this tunnel numerous times and return with no ill effects. 
You are concerned enough about a possible methane leak that you decide
to see for yourself.  You want to sleep well at night.  You don't want
to worry about your own survival or that of your friends.

You believe you are good enough at holding your breath that, if you
smell the governor in the gas, you can safely get out.  You have seen
that people just like you are able to enter and leave the tunnel
without ill effects.  You want to know if there is a dangerous methane
leak.

You enter the tunnel and get through the gate.  The information is
correct so far.  Perhaps this person has set aside his animosity for
you because of the greater good for the neighborhood over this
possible leak, or at least out of compassion for your sleepless
nights.  You continue down the tunnel until you go down a steep
incline and reach a depression.  The depression is filled with
methane.  It has no governor smell since it is a natural leak.  You
begin to succumb.

Suddenly, one of the other people who go into the tunnel after-hours
grabs your arm and drags you out.  You see there are tubes around his
ears, but later you think this was a methane-induced hallucination (he
has a portable air system - mundane analogy to the animagi form).

You believe the person who told you how to get into the tunnel meant
for you to die in the methane pit.  He didn't, or so he says, he just
thought you deserved it for being nosey.  Since you cannot believe him
about the tunnel any more, you also cannot believe that he never meant
for you to die.  You continue to hold this belief.  You do not believe
you did anything wrong, in fact you have discovered that there is a
dangerous methane leak and have complained to your local government. 
However, the government tells you the leak is under control by
funneling into this pit.  (really, they're nuts, but hey, it's an
imperfect example)  They are working on a solution which will both cap
the methane well and benefit the city by selling this methane for
revenue.  You are cajoled, intimidated, outright threatened, to keep
the secret "for the greater good."

You can say nothing.  You signed forms in triplicate.  However, the
person who pulled you out can still brag that he saved you from
"whatever is down there."  You're the hero, but you're sworn to
secrecy and the city will never admit there was an *open* pit of
methane under the street so you will always be the victim while your
rescuer will always be the hero.

Other than that, I'm one of the ones who doubt Sirius wanted Snape to
die but instead wanted him to soil himself and learn a lesson about
snooping on other people.  I could be wrong, though, so I agree with
you that there is no indication one way or another that this is what
Sirius intended.

Ceridwen.