Snape's worst memory: the Pensieve Scene

[evangelina839]

No: HPFGUIDX 68654

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "M.Clifford"
<valkyrievixen at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "amcelfre" <amcelfre at m...> 
> wrote:
> > When the book described Snape removing memories into the
Pensieve, 
> I 
> > jumped immediately to the conclusion that he was removing
memories 
> > pertaining to secrets of The Order, since there was such a
concern 
> > that Voldemort could be aware of what Potter was aware of. Was 
> anyone 
> > else surprised when the memories turned out to be personal?  I 
> > suppose that the pensieve could have contained more memories than 
> we 
> > saw, since Harry was interrupted in his viewing of them...
> 
> A thought just occured to me while reading your post.
> What if that particular memory was removed to protect a secret of
the 
> order?
<snip>
> Valky


I'm leaning more towards the theory that Snape's choice of memories
to hide says 
more about him than anything else. Of course we don't know what the
other two 
removed memories were, but what does it say about someone who'd
rather conceal 
painful/humiliating personal memories than information concerning the
very secret 
Order he's a part of? I don't think I'll be able to explain my theory
very clearly, but I'll 
give it a try...
First of all, it could surely be possible that Snape was able to shut
Voldemort out of 
Harry's mind, and that he therefore didn't see the need of hiding
Order secrets. Snape 
is after all described as a "superb Occlumens".
Second, I don't think Snape not giving priority to putting away Order
secrets, but 
rather his own memories, is anything negative about him; I have
always had difficulty 
understanding people who put an organisation or country or whatever
first in all 
situations. I think it's more telling us something about Snape's
fears (what do you 
think a Boggart would turn into to scare him??) or whatever; maybe
something about 
what kind of relationship he would like to have with Harry. Also,
Snape hiding it 
probably emphasizes the humiliation he felt there... I mean, he's not
likely to avoid 
showing Harry discreditable information about his father.
Okay - I'm a little flurry here - the point is, I think Snape's
character is a little clearer 
after OoP, especially due to the Occlumency and the Pensieve scene. I
start to see him 
as someone who deep inside is more hurt than angry, but who is so
used to covering 
that up and reacting to every strong emotion with anger that he has
almost forgotten 
that he is hurt... and also that he doesn't really like these sides
of himself, the 
"weaknesses", it could possibly be that he was drawn to Voldemort and
his gang in 
the first place because he admired their - well - lack of weakness.
Although, if that's 
true, I really can't see Snape as someone who would crawl up to
anyone on his knees, 
kiss the person's feet and beg for forgiveness... (like the DEs in
the graveyard scene 
of GoF)
Yeah, well - I will only be happy if someone helps me sort this out
by giving me 
comments! :)

evangelina