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

[jules]

No: HPFGUIDX 190501



> Alla:
> 
>  If we both agree that Snape at least suspected that there is a werewolf down there, to me to say that he "did not expect to be open to direct attack" is diminishing Snape's responsibility for his own choices and his mental capacity, you know?
> 
> Werewolf is very very dangerous when he is in werewolf's form, right? As far as official speak goes, werewolves were not allowed at Hogwarts, right?
> 
> Why would we assume that Snape who suspected that there would be werewolf decide that he would not be opened to direct attack? Is it not more logical and reasonable to assume that when you will face "dark creature", such dark creature will attack you? 

Julie:
We are hampered knowing so few facts, but Snape did know that Madame Pomprey went to the Shrieking Shack with Lupin. Also we're not aware that Snape knows the layout of the Shack. It's just as logical to assume that there is a way to spy without actually being in direct contact with Lupin--should he actually be a werewolf and not be hiding something else entirely--especially given that Madame Pomprey seems to come and go openly and without injury. 

It is all conjecture of course, and again Snape doesn't know for sure what he will find. Stupid? Yes. Not well thought out, because Snape mostly cared about catching the Marauders at something illegal and getting them expelled? Yes. 

Alla:
> It is the same way as I feel about describing Snape blabbing prophecy to Voldemort as "but Snape did not know what Voldemort will do with it". Um, I hate Snape, but I never thought that he is an imbecile. As I always say, I wonder if he thought that Voldemort will invite Potters for tea and make nice with them, you know?
> 
> And same thing here for me. Why would we assume that Snape thought something less reasonable and logical before he went there, especially since we know that he actually *thought* about what was down there, before he went.

Julie:
I don't see it as the same thing, as I am sure Snape did know what Voldemort would do with the Prophecy. He just didn't know that Voldemort would target Lily, about which he cared a great deal. It was only later that he apparently came to care about the welfare of anyone else besides Lily (saving those others he could). Again, because we have so few facts on the Shrieking Shack incident, there are several equally logical theories, IMO. 


Alla: 
> And same thing with Sirius "allowed" Snape to go to his likely death. Sirius did not *allow* or *disallow* Snape to do anything in my opinion. Sirius gave Snape's information, which *if and only if* Snape will use it, may lead to his likely death and for that I hold Sirius responsible, absolutely, for that and for forcing Remus to participate in it, which to me was ten times more criminal and irresponsible, because Remus' choice was taken away from him.

Julie:
Sirius knew the truth and the possible outcome but did not warn or stop Snape (or not tell Snape about the Shack in the first place). If he did not stop an event (good or bad) when he could, then he allowed it to go on. Yes, in a passive sense, but IMO that is still wrong. James certainly thought so. I can only hope that James went there not only to save Remus from potentially being a killer, but to save Snape from being killed also (which is what the text implies). Which makes James a much better person than Sirius in this scene, and perhaps in general, IMO. I do agree that Remus being unaware of any of it was the most wronged person, BTW, which certainly doesn't do my opinion of teenaged Sirius any favors. 


> 
> Alla:
> 
> But we know that that there is a curse that kills, why would Snape want or need anything additional?  Why would we come up with mysterious additional weapon if we know that there is a curse that kills everything alive in Potterverse only to say that Snape did not take anything with him? Are werewolves immune to Avada? I actually do not remember, if so, then your point is taken of course.

Julie:
I was under the impression from the text that it is very difficult to kill a werewolf (in werewolf form). Maybe because they are so fast, or for some other reason. In any case, Snape didn't seem prepared at all, and James seemed to think Snape was in mortal danger even though he knows Snape is well-versed in Dark Arts and no slouch at spells. Why would James think that if he knew Snape could easily defend himself by killing the werewolf? (Yes, he could have gone just thinking Remus was in danger of being killed, but that is not what the text says, as it is repeated by several different people that James went to the Shack to save Snape specifically, with no implication that Lupin's life was in any danger at that time.)

Julie