Sirius and the Prank

R_Ravenclaw · #1 08-26-2007, 18:34

I'm not entirely sure it was stated in the books, but does anyone know which year it was that Sirius told Snape that he should go under the Whomping Willow and through the passage? You know, the prank that almost got Snape killed if it weren't for James? If she didn't set up a date, doesn't it seem like something that would've happened in sixth or seventh year?

Thanks in advance for your help!

~Alison

megan_lupin · #2 08-26-2007, 18:42

Sixth year has always been the mostly agreed upon time for the Prank to take place, I believe. As for when in the Sixth Year, I'm not quite sure.

However, I don't think it'd go into Seventh Year, because Snape mentions in PoA that Sirius "showed he was capable of murder at the age of sixteen" or something to that effect when he's talking to Dumbledore.

I'd have to check PoA again to be sure if Remus or Sirius never mentions a date in the Shrieking Shack scene.

~Megan

cmwinters · #3 08-26-2007, 18:50

This is such a pet peeve for me.

Sirius was sixteen when he pulled this prank, but we do not know his birthdate. He had to have been born after September 1st the 1959 and before August 31st 1960, going by the most recent timeline in the story, but bear in mind this changes rather frequently. According to previous math, James & Lily should have been born in March and January 1959, respectively. Snape is only 3 weeks older than Lily, and a couple of months older than James.

Anyway, for the sake of argument, let's go with 1960 for Snape, James & Lily's birthdates. For Sirius to have been sixteen when the prank was pulled, without knowing Sirius' actual birthdate, it could have happened almost any time during fifth or sixth year. It most definitely did not happen seventh year.

It had been pretty well established prior to last month that it took place in sixth year. And then Deathly Hallows said it took place before the OWLs, which is not something I personally believe, but I suppose it depends on how canonically compliant you want to be.

TheBlackSister · #4 08-26-2007, 18:58

James' and Lily's birthyear is 1960 (Godric's Hollow, DH). I've always saw the prank in the sixth year.

Amber0_o · #5 08-26-2007, 19:44

Apparently the Werewolf 'Prank' took place before SWM, which was their fifth year. So I guess it was early fifth year...

R_Ravenclaw · #6 08-26-2007, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amber0_o

Apparently the Werewolf 'Prank' took place before SWM, which was their fifth year. So I guess it was early fifth year...

Um, this is probably a stupid question, but should I know what SWM is...?

Anyway, so it's fifth year?

Amber0_o · #7 08-26-2007, 19:47

Oh, sorry. I thought everyone used the abbriviations.

SWM is Snape's Worst Memory, or the chapter when Harry saw James and Sirius bullying Snape back in OotP.

cmwinters · #8 08-26-2007, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amber0_o

Apparently the Werewolf 'Prank' took place before SWM, which was their fifth year. So I guess it was early fifth year...

That is according to Deathly Hallows.

Normally, the final book in the series would be the final word on a topic. However, that scene is just one of the many scenes in Deathly Hallows that is completely non-compliant with previous material. This is why I mentioned that the writer has to decide how canonically compliant to be, and in some cases, pick a book to be compliant to.

(You *really* do not want to get me started on the rest of them. I have a list. It's 3500 words long, last time I bothered to count, and I've added some since then . . . )

R_Ravenclaw · #9 08-26-2007, 19:59

Sorry about that—I'm really bad about figuring out abbreviations the first time

It took me MONTHS to realise what MWPP stood for

Okay, so I'll put it in my fic as before SWM (I'm totally going to use that all the time now!) unless anyone has evidence proving otherwise...

*looks around and waits for response*

Still, it would be SO much easier to put it in my fic as during sixth year or at least after the OWLs incident...

Amber0_o · #10 08-26-2007, 21:26

If it would make it easier for you plot I would just put it in their sixth year and add an AU warning.