... The Prank

[GulPlum]

At 02:37 12/06/05 , Neri wrote:

<snip>

>OK, you convinced me. We might actually get three pages of The Prank
>(TM) instead of just one <g>.

Or more. Given JKR's track record to date, she doesn't bring up back 
history just for the sake of it. Everything is there for a reason. Whilst 
most of JKR's hints and references are a little more oblique, often little 
more than one sentence or one paragraph (e.g. Sirius's mention in PS/SS: 
one sentence; or the one sentence about the Room of Requirement in GoF), 
the fact that the Prank (TM) got two paragraphs in PS/SS and almost a whole 
page in PoA, not to mention the fact that it has to be confirmed (or 
debunked, if you're Kneasy) as the source of Snape's animus towards Harry, 
it would probably warrant half a book. JKR's track record makes only 3 
pages somewhat unlikely. :-)

>And I'm still wondering *how* are we going to get them. James and
>Sirius are dead, Lupin apparently only got "a glimpse" while in
>wolfsbane-less werewolf mode, Peter is not exactly a reliable source
>(assuming he's even accessible, which isn't likely), and can you see
>Snape leaving his Pensieve again where Harry might reach it?

I implied that difficulty in my previous message. However, JKR is the 
inventor of this world and she can always introduce a new magical object. 
For instance, we have no idea what Sirius's mirror in OotP was about or how 
it works, and I'm sure we'll hear of it again. For all we know, it might 
include a record of all of Sirius's and James's interactions and we could 
get their two sides of the Prank (TM) before we're introduced to some other 
magical way of reliving the past. For instance, we know that portraits have 
a kind of consciousness; all we know about photos is that they move. 
Perhaps there's a way to interact with photographic representations of 
people as well? All in all, the possibilities are pretty much endless.

I said before that I'd hoped that this issue could be a catalyst for Harry 
and Snape to settle their differences. How about they settle their 
differences first (Snape started to understand some things about Harry's 
life during the Occlumency sessions in OotP although he still has a small 
step to make to draw some conclusions) and Snape *allows* Harry a look 
through his memory of the event?

>An unexpected witness? Florence perhaps, peeking from behind the
>greenhouses? Still, it's unlikely she was inside the tunnel, so she
>had seen even less than Lupin of James' moment of glory.

Oh, I'm sure that we have more to learn about Florence as well. And Moaning 
Myrtle. Whether or not there's a connection between Florence and the Prank 
(TM) remains to be seen, but I don't believe  that JKR introduced the 
character just for fun. And just who was Florence snogging in the bushes?

>It seems there are easier ways to redeem James. The GH files might do
>it, and how about some details regarding this "thrice defied him"?

Godric's Hollow is a different issue (the central character there - as far 
as we know right now - is Lily, and we have no evidence thus far that she 
was ever anything other than a wonderful person). The "thrice defied" is 
different yet again, and references the Longbottoms as well. I'm sure we'll 
get some info (which I expect to be fairly patchy) about the original 
Order's activities and their methods, but the Potters and the Longbottoms 
are likely to be the main focus.

--
Richard AKA GulPlum, being to ramble