The worst is yet to come + Pensive theory

[Grey Wolf]

No: HPFGUIDX 81022

Emily Grace Blackstone (EGB) wrote:
> You know, my problem with the whole Snape/Pensieve thing is this: Why 
> did he wait until Harry was in the room to remove his memories? He 
> knew when the lesson was scheduled to begin, why didn't he do this 5 
> mins. before?

I can think of two answers to this question. One is that he had just 
arrived himself and he just had had no time to take his memories out 
beforehand (doubtful). The other is that Snape doesn't *really* like 
taking memories out of his head. He prefers to mull them internally 
instead of using the pensieve, which he either mistrusts or simply 
doesn't know how to use (not every muggle can use a VHS - even those 
that are nuclear science experts).

> Instead, he waited for Harry to arrive, sat him down in front of his 
> desk and rather blatantly removed these (to curious!Harry very 
> mysterious) memories. It's almost as though Snape was ASKING for 
> Harry to snoop. Hello, this is HARRY we're taling about, Mr. 
> Notorious Meddler. So, why?

This (call it explanation number three) is of course very possible too 
- as I sort of hinted in a previous post (but I fear EGB misunderstood 
my reasoning - see later).

> I feel that Harry was meant to see something.  I don't totally 
> understand how the Pensieve works. Is it totally chronolgical? Is it 
> just what happens to be swirling aroung at the top? Is it whatever 
> was put in there last? I don't really know. 

Nor does anyone, really. However, lets examine the evidence. Someone 
posted in this thread that it must be random, since it is all swirling 
around. I feel skeptical about that. After all, what use is it if you 
keep getting random memories? No, obviously there is a magical way to 
choose the next one you want to see. I suggested a standard stack 
(first in last out) in which the last you add is the first you see, 
with chance to call up a different one. 

Why do I say this? Well, Dumbledore, in the exposition scene at the end 
of OoP pulls out a memory, puts it in the pensieve and lets it rest a 
little bit (the impression I get is that he's gathering strength to 
hear the prophecy, not because the pensive needs time to process the 
new memory), but once he taps he gets immediate answer. Yes, he's 
Dumbledore and probably has had lots of practice, but still I feel it 
was easy to get it.

Besides, if I was the one doing the pensieve, that's the way I would've 
done it. :D

> And it's entirely possible that Snape wanted Harry to see the 
> prank for the reasons Grey Wolf stated: to show Harry that is dad was 
> really an arrogant git.  Snape's little revenges on Harry have all 
> been mean enough that I wouldn't put it past him.

Ummm... I want to point out that this wasn't exactly what I said. I 
said that Snape had put delicate memories (i.e. memories of his work 
for the OoP or - in case Snape is Ever So Evil - *against* the OoP) 
that he didn't want Harry to see. To protect those memories, he finally 
puts one long one that will stop Harry from getting to the others if he 
leaves, and chooses it as the first to be displayed (notice that how 
the pensieve works is irrelevant now - Harry doesn't make an attempt to 
choose memories, thus whatever Snape chose to be the first still is).

The part about Snape being a nasty evil git comes in when choosing the 
memory to put as a cover for the rest - he chooses one memory that will 
hurt Harry and prove his point at the same time. But not because of 
meaness and just to teach him a lesson, but also to protect the real 
memories they don't want Harry to pass onto Voldemort.

> EGB
>   moving out of her lurker hole at last (Oh, the sun! My, it's bright 
> out here!)

Welcome! I hope your stay here in posting land is very good!

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf, who is always amazed how easily other people borrow his 
handle (not that that's a bad thing)... maybe he should use a less 
friendly one like "bites your leg" :D