XPOST: Lupin is Ever So Evil Part One -- The Prank (long)

[Barry Arrowsmith]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> wrote:
> 
> But for this bit, what I mostly have to go on is
> Snape's claim that Lupin was in on it (1) -- "it"
> being the "highly amusing joke" that would have
> resulted in Snape's death(2). 
> 
> The story of the prank in canon is simply told.
> Snape wanted to know where Lupin went every month.
> One evening, he spotted Madam Pomfrey taking Lupin
> out to the Whomping Willow. Sirius thought it would
> be amusing to tell Snape how to get inside. "Of
> course" Snape tried it. If he had gotten as far as
> the Shrieking Shack, he would have met a full grown
> werewolf, but James, who'd heard what Sirius had
> done, went after Snape and pulled him back. Ever
> since then, Snape has known that Lupin was a
> werewolf. (3)
>

Kneasy:
Until further evidence is forthcoming (assuming that it will be
forthcoming) then this must be regarded as an extremely
weak spot in the plot.
1. Why didn't Snape see Pomfrey poking the Willow with sticks?
2. Why would Snape believe anything Sirius tells him?
3. How come Lupin transforms when sheltered from moonlight?
Why didn't the same transformation happen in PoA?
4. Does this discrepancy indicate something important - i.e. a
werewolf *must* transform when exposed to moonlight but
*may voluntarily* transform when the full moon is up but not 
shining directly upon the afflicted? So far as I can figure this is
the only way to resolve the difficulties and tie Lupin in as a
co-conspirator on the 'joke'. 
5. Unless, purely by serendipitous coincidence Lupin happens to 
be a wolf-animagus. And who would swallow that one? 
6. Or has Jo been plot-sloppy?

Unfortunately my money is on 6; though it'd be nice if I was wrong
and 4 was correct.

Even so, 2. is a killer IMO. I had a damn good scoff about this in

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/105755

Another thing I don't find credible is that Snape kept quiet about it 
all, not unless coercive magic was used - and if that was the case 
then one day he'll snap out of it and realise that DD isn't his best 
chum after all. Mind you, it would explain why DD trusts him so
completely.

Lupin may or may not be ESE. Personally I tend to think not, I think
it's Sirius. No matter. What does matter is that the whole 'Prank'
idea as we know it won't wash, not until it gets a believable spinal
transplant.
It's like the Shack itself, ramshackle and with holes in the roof.