[HPforGrownups] Snape's choice of memories for the pensieve (was: Death and Snape)

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 108521

> Marty wrote:
> > Also,  in OoP, in the pensieve scene, we see that Snape 
> > removes "certain of his thoughts" Chap. 28 Snape's Worst Memory 
> > (p638 US Edition 2003).  I find it interesting that the one
> > memory Harry gets into involves his father.  


I think we have to put some OOTP book context into this answer.  The
last time that Snape saw Harry before the occlumency lesson was at
12GP where he and Sirius had almost dueled and where Sirius called
Snape "Snivellus" in front of Harry.  It would be natural for Snape
to assume that Harry asked Sirius "what was THAT all about?" and that
Sirius would have told Harry about how he and James used to rag Snape
and prank him.  (Snape not realizing that Harry is almost tongue-tied
in Sirius' presence; throughout the books so far Snape actually has
quite a romantic and idealized view of the Marauders' friendship and
Harry's relations with Sirius.)

So when Harry comes into his first occlumency lesson, Snape is
already loaded for bear and looking for signs of increased disrespect
("Don't give me orders!  My dad used to hang you upside down in the
air!") based on this new knowledge of Snape's earlier humiliations. 
That's why the hyper-insistence on being addressed as "sir" or
"professor".  That's why the coming-down-like-a-hammer on the
slightest hint of attitude (which Harry is manifesting big-time
anyway).  And that's why the worst memory (worst in that it would be
the worst memory that HARRY could see, considering the Harry/Snape
relationship of student/teacher) goes into the pensieve, so that if
by some miracle Harry breaks into Snape's head, it won't be there.  

Magda (who really thinks that Sirius was nothing but trouble for
Harry's emotional development and maturity and is glad that he's gone
from the series)


		
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