[HPforGrownups] Re: Possible Discrepancy in PS

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 18268

nera at rconnect.com wrote:

> ****************************************
> My question in all this discussion about Snape vs Quirrel, is how did
> Snape know about the Philosopher's Stone in the first place?

Your question can be read two ways: How did he know about the existence
of the Stone, as an abstract possibility? As in, how did he know about
the end product of the study of alchemy? Or, more specifically, how did
Snape know about that particular Stone there at Hogwarts?

For the former, anyone familiar with alchemy knows about the Stone. [By
the way, in traditional alchemical lore, "stone" is just the term, it's
actually an elixir of some kind. I don't recall why it's called a stone,
I can ask my old flame again if you want.]

For the latter, Snape was one of the team of teachers involved in
devising the obstacles to the Stone. Why on earth would Dumbledore NOT
have told them about it? I imagine he had a teacher conference of some
sort and informed them that for security purposes, he had removed the
Stone from Gringotts and was going to conceal it at Hogwarts. He'd
outline his plan for concealment and give the teachers who would be
involved their assignments for obstructions. Why do you think Dumbledore
wouldn't have told the teachers, or at the very least the four Heads of
Houses, from the outset?

--Amanda


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