(Anonymous)
Interesting points - however, I must point out that the 'Werewolf Incident (prank) came before Snape's Worst Memory.
So, while Remus is 'doing nothing', reading and frowning, Snape had already thought by then that Remus had been 'in on' the 'prank'. Remus' frown could also be merely worry that if pushed too far, Snape might 'out' him.
Personally, I tend to see this incident (SWM) as almost the final blow. They have already tried to kill him and now James flat out admits that it's just because he exists. They obviously feel 'safe' that no matter what they do to Snape, he will not let out Remus' secret (implying SOME kind of Vow or big enough threat that they believe Snape wouldn't dare).
Add in that he loses Lily when he calls her a mudblood, but also uses a 'dark spell' (by his own words in HBP when Harry uses it) in PUBLIC and that this all leads up to a summer at home with Lily no longer speaking to him? I tend to see SWM as the last stop before his sliding down the slippery to DEdom became a full-out tumble.
And would Remus necessarily have been poor back then? Remus as an adult cannot find gainful employment hence the shabby clothes. Yet his being a werewolf would not have prevented his parents from working (or at least one of them, one probably did need to take off to take care of him on the day after) so he may not have been poor. For instance, I don't remember any mention of Remus' shabby clothes in SWM.
I can still see Snape thinking Remus might make a friend earlier in their school years, but 5th year Remus is also the same as his voice on the Marauders Map - peeved that Snape is following him around and insulting Snape's nose. He was not probably totally innocent and silent during all prankings -- Hwyla
So, while Remus is 'doing nothing', reading and frowning, Snape had already thought by then that Remus had been 'in on' the 'prank'. Remus' frown could also be merely worry that if pushed too far, Snape might 'out' him.
Personally, I tend to see this incident (SWM) as almost the final blow. They have already tried to kill him and now James flat out admits that it's just because he exists. They obviously feel 'safe' that no matter what they do to Snape, he will not let out Remus' secret (implying SOME kind of Vow or big enough threat that they believe Snape wouldn't dare).
Add in that he loses Lily when he calls her a mudblood, but also uses a 'dark spell' (by his own words in HBP when Harry uses it) in PUBLIC and that this all leads up to a summer at home with Lily no longer speaking to him? I tend to see SWM as the last stop before his sliding down the slippery to DEdom became a full-out tumble.
And would Remus necessarily have been poor back then? Remus as an adult cannot find gainful employment hence the shabby clothes. Yet his being a werewolf would not have prevented his parents from working (or at least one of them, one probably did need to take off to take care of him on the day after) so he may not have been poor. For instance, I don't remember any mention of Remus' shabby clothes in SWM.
I can still see Snape thinking Remus might make a friend earlier in their school years, but 5th year Remus is also the same as his voice on the Marauders Map - peeved that Snape is following him around and insulting Snape's nose. He was not probably totally innocent and silent during all prankings -- Hwyla