Snape's whereabouts

[Madelyne X]

No: HPFGUIDX 69288

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Lark Austin-Black 
<lark_austin_black at y...> wrote:
> ~M wrote:
> >> I thought it odd that Snape wasn't around to supervise
> the potions O.W.L. exam in OotP.   I'm sure all the kids did
> better as a result of his absence -- but it begs the question: 
> where exactly was he ? >>>>>
> 
> 
> Remember that Snape *is* a member of the Order--he may
> have been taking care of something for
> Dumbledore...however, how do we know that all of the
> other teachers were around to "supervise" their
> subject OWLS...maybe it is not actually a requirement,
> especially when the MoM employes the witches and
> wizards who conduct the tests...
> 
> ~LA-B

Are all of the teachers not around during the OWLS exams save 
Marchbanks and Tofty?  I seemed to have gotten JKR sort of 
underscoring: "with Snape absent from the proceedings he found that 
he was much more relaxed than he usually was while making potions..."
Perhaps the meaning i: 'since Snape wasn't there (as with all the 
respective teachers not being present for OWLS )he was more relaxed 
in doing potions.'

~M
The Keeper of His Buttons