[HPforGrownups] OOP: Thoughts on the pensieve and a bit of Snape

[Heather Gauen]

No: HPFGUIDX 65428

AAARRRGGGGHHHH! Sorry, I just wrote this *entire*
thing and my computer ate it! Now let's see if I can
reconstruct it somehow...

Let me make the usual apology if this has been
dicussed already, but I just can't keep up with all
the posts. Mildly spoilerish, but not much so. That
said, let the post commence!

The whole scene with Snape and the pensieve has really
raised some interesting questions (particularly
concerning MWPP's school days, which I would *love* a
whole book about). I think that there is a possibility
that Snape purposely wanted Harry to see what a jerk
his father was, but I think there's a pretty strong
case to be made to the contrary. But first, a bit of
theorizing and random thoughts about that pensieve. 

Memories can be both taken out of and put back into
the head. Does that mean that when a memory is taken
out and placed in the pensieve, it is no longer in the
head *at all*? Like, you could watch your memory in
the pensieve but have no actual recollection of it in
your mind until it was replaced? Because if that
*isn't* true, then I'm not sure I see the point of it
at all (except maybe to show someone else your
memories, but that will start me off on a different
tangent, so let's just stick with this one, shall we?
;P) So, for now, let's just assume that's true.

Following on down my stream-of-consciousness
post...Dumbledore's comment in GoF that a pensieve
makes it easier to spot patterns and links is an
interesting one and proves the usefulness of such a
tool. It raises one of two possibilities (or perhaps
both):

a) A pensieve will show *exactly* what happened, with
no bias, so that someone can see what happened when
they may not remember clearly or accurately on their
own. [This refutes the "Snape's memory is biased to
make himself look good" theory.]

b) A pensieve will show an *entire* situation,
including details that the person may have forgotten
or had no way to know in the first place. [This could
provide an answer to those complaining that Harry saw
things that Snape couldn't have seen. Perhaps that's
one of the perks of a pensieve. Remember, if Harry can
dive in and hear MWPP talking about Lupin's werewolf
status, Snape could do the same thing.]

I think it that at least one of these must be true;
otherwise, what's the point of a pensieve?

Going back to Snape for a second- Why was he using a
pensieve in the first place? Perhaps he was aware that
Occlumency would open his mind to Harry as much as
Harry's mind was open to him, so he was getting rid of
any thought that he didn't want Harry to stumble
across. It is quite in keeping with Snape's character
for his embarrassment at being seen in such a
predicament (ahhh, the underwear!) to override his
desire to rub James' flaws in Harry's face. 

A few more random questionings concerning the
pensieve:
-Was Snape borrowing Dumbledore's or did he have his
own? How hard are they to get?

-Is it possible to use it to extract things you've
seen but don't actually remember? Like, could Harry
use it to see his parents with him as a baby? 

-Is it possible to "skew" memories beyond mere bias,
or to make something up entirely? Or does the pensieve
show only truth? [I ask because, if the pensieve does
not lie, couldn't someone like Sirius use it to show
his memory of that night and prove his innocence? Not
that he'll ever have the chance now...sniffle :(]

-What happens if you spill the pensieve? :) 

Gosh, this turned out longer than I thought, but once
I started thinking about the pensieve I ended up with
so many thoughts that I needed one ;) Discuss away!

Heather, who had a *very* odd dream last night that
when Harry was leaving the Dursleys for the very last
time, Uncle Vernon broke down crying, told him not to
leave, and said that he loved him like a son all
along. That's one theory that I *really* don't think
will happen!




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