"Old and Valuable" Whomping Willow - But Why?

[Pat]

No: HPFGUIDX 109806


Brenda wrote:
> > Hi all!
> > 
> <snipped>... when Snape is lecturing 
> > them about damaging the Whomping Willow, he describes it as "old 
> and 
> > valuable".  Also Harry's description has it "ancient tree".
> > 
> > But why?
> > 
> > > 
> Pat here:
> 
> In the book, Harry never says ancient, and Snape never says old, 
> just valuable.  Here's the quote, after Snape reads from the paper 
> that they were seen by six or seven muggles:
> 
> "I noticed, in my search of the park, that considerable damage 
seems 
> to have been done to a very valuable Whomping Willow."  (US 
> paperback, Chap. 5, p. 79)


Pat again:

Well, on further reading, after someone pointed out the difference 
in the UK and US versions, I looked again at that part.  And the old 
and ancient references are in the US version--I apologize for having 
missed them when I first posted about this.

So to correct my mistake:

"He [Harry] glanced over his shoulder at the ancient tree, which was 
still flailing its branches threateningly."  (US, Chap. 5, p. 76)

and...

Snape said:  "Professor Dumbledore, these boys have flouted the 
Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry, caused serious 
damage to an old and valuable tree--surely acts of this nature--"  
(US, Chap. 5, p. 81)

I guess my mistake was in looking too quickly, rather than re-
reading more carefully.  Sorry about that.

Pat