Agnes (was Re: Snape's mother)

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 90399


> Berit wrote:
> <snip>
> > Quote: "Two beds along was a woman whose entire 
> > head was covered in fur; Harry remembered something 
> > similar happening to Hermione during their second 
> > year, although fortunately the damage, in her case, 
> > had not been permanent. ...
> > 'Here you are, Agnes,' said the Healer brightly to the 
> > furry-faced woman, handing her a small pile of Christmas 
> > presents. 'See, not forgotten, are you? And your son's 
> > sent an owl to say he's visiting tonight, so that's nice, 
> > isn't it?'
> > Agnes gave several loud barks." (OoP p. 452 UK Ed).
> >
> > I can't help being suspicious when Rowling reveals small details 
> > about new, seemingly insignificant characters.
> 
> Now (Audrey):
> 
> One thing about this passage puzzles me.  The healer hands Agnes a 
> pile of presents but *tells* her that her son sent an owl and will 
be 
> visiting.  Now either Agnes can't read or the owl was addressed to 
> the staff and not to Agnes.  If the former is the case then I 
really 
> don't have anywhere to go with this post, but assume, for 
> discussion's sake, the latter is correct.  
> 
> Why would someone write to the hospital where their mother is a 
> patient and inform the staff that they will be visiting later?  
> Perhaps this son needs some special assistance on arrival.  Perhaps 
> this son can't enter a magical building without help.  Perhaps this 
> son is a squib.  
(snip theory that Agnes may be Filch's mother.)

Ginger:
I'm not arguing the Filch theory, but I did want to add that the son 
may have owled the staff rather than Agnes herself simply because 
Agnes can't speak.  

I had a good friend with cerebral palsey who would have been 
perfectly capable of reading a note saying I was coming, or of 
hearing and understanding me had I said it in a phone call, but as 
she couldn't speak, she wouldn't have been able to communicate it to 
the staff.  I used to call them and let them know that I was coming 
for a visit. 

If Filch is her son, I hope he leaves Mrs. Norris behind when he 
visits.

Ginger