Chapter Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban Ch 18: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Pron

[nikkalmati]

No: HPFGUIDX 190490



> Questions
> 1. Lupin says the Marauders' map never lies, could this be a support for the
> argument that the map does not have dark magic in it? Do you agree or disagree
> with it?
>

Nikkalmati

The map never lies in the sense that what it shows is always correct.   It is not sentient.  What it shows reflects reality.  Lupin of course knows this because he helped in its creation.  I don't think it involved Dark Magic.  Didn't the Mauraders hate Dark Magic?  It is a complex piece of charm work.  I am not sure how it could insult Snape in Ch. 14 unless it had been preprogramed years earlier in case Snape found it.
Nikkalmati

> 2. Did you believed Lupin and Black (if you remember of course) when you were
> reading the book for the first time that Peter was in the room?
>
Nikkalmati

Yes, I had no reason not to believe it.

Nikkalmati
 
> 3. As some of you may know as a Sirius' fan, but first and foremost as a reader,
> I absolutely refuse to place all the blame for the prank on Sirius. I happen to
> feel that just as Sirius had no business telling Snape about Remus' secret,
> Snape had no business whatsoever of going to the Shack and nobody actually
> forced him to go there. However as the very same reader, I am still racking my
> brain what the hell was Sirius thinking would have happened to Remus if he were
> to bite Snape, or if Snape would simply uncover his secret. So what was he
> thinking? Was he thinking anything?

Nikkalmati

I don't think any one places all the blame on Sirius, but he bears most of it.  :>)  He knew the truth and what was likely to happen.  Snape did not.  Being nosey or anitch does not deserve death.  Just try setting a lethal trap for a burgler and find out what the law says about that.  You would be in jail and all your possessions probably would end up in the hands of the burgler's living relatives.  

The second point always puzzled me.  What was Sirius thinking?  I guess he thought if Snape kept snooping around he would eventually find out what the Animagi were doing and he thought something like "a dead Snape tells no tales." We see he is portrayed as reckless and heedless even as an adult, so I guess I can go with that - but how could Lupin forgive him when the consequences for him were expulsion or possible execution?  Didn't James resent even a little that he had to risk his life because of that stupid trick?  How did Dumbledore get Snape to agree to keep mum?  That's another puzzle.

Nikkalmati

> 
> 4. When Lupin was telling his interpretation of the Prank, were you curious
> whether "
" after him saying that Snape was jealous of James' Quidditch talent
> meant that there was more to the story?

Nikkalmati

I found that hard to believe because Snape did not seem to be involved in Quidditch.  I thought Lupin was just mistaken.  Now I think he didn't want to discuss the real reasons.

Nikkalmati
> 
> 5. Were you shocked to see Snape appear in the room?

Nikkalmati
Surprised but not shocked.
> 
> 6. To what extent Snape's belief Lupin was involved in the Prank was rational?
> 
Nikkalmati

It was not correct, but it was not an irrational conclusion.  Snape might have reasoned that Sirius would not have set up Lupin like that without Lupin's agreement.

Nikkalmati