Scarlet Woman/ Snape and Quirrellmort

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 45167

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Rita" <potter76 at l...> wrote:
Rita said:
> ... I couldn't understand the expression 'Scarlet Woman'. ..., 
> but to understand ... I need your 'assistance' ...

bboy_mn replies:
The explanations by others pretty much tells you what you need to
know. But I will add a slight expansion of the 'scarlet letter'.
During a very repressive/oppressive time in American History around
the time of the Salem witch trials, women who were accused by Adultery
were made to wear a large red letter 'A' as a punishment and a form of
public humiliation. In most cases, these women were convicted in the
court of public opinion. And it's not clear what happened to the man
involved, I'm guessing his friends took him down to the Pub and bought
him a beer.;) 


> ... Snape shouldn't have felt LV presence 
> at Hogwarts, especially when dealing with Quirrell? What's more, 
> during that year LV was getting stronger, even if not much, by 
> drinking unicorn blood, shouldn't the Dark Mark have shown ...

bboy_mn:
I'm agree with Eloise, the appearance of the Dark Mark seems to
concide with LV gaining physical form.


Rita continues: 
> OTOH, LV should be aware, if not completely sure, of on which 
> side Snape is because he was there when Snape threatened and 
> tried to stop Quirrell. If he trusted him he could have revealed 
> himself to his old follower and ask him to help getting the Stone. 
> 

bboy_mn adds:
I'm splitting hairs here, but I don't think it was a matter of LV
trusting or not trusting Snape, it was a question of not knowing if he
could trust Snape. If he revealed himself and got it wrong, the whole
plan was blown. Rather than take the chance, he thought it was wiser 
to leave Snape for some other time and concentrate on Quirrel and the
Stone.

In the graveyard scene in GoF, in what we assume is a reference to
Snape, LV say something to the effect 'one who I *believe* has left me
forever' (not an exact quote but close enough). That statement seems
to imply some small element of doubt. It seems to imply that he is
making an assumption.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn