Snape and MWPP - knowing nicknames was|: Re: Why ole Snapey is a vamp

[junediamanti]

No: HPFGUIDX 88425

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "vmonte" <vmonte at y...> wrote:
>> vmonte responds:
> Snape recognizes that the map belongs to Lupin's gang because he 
> known their nicknames since they were all in high school. In the 
> Snape pensieve chapter: James Potter and his gang are all calling 
> themselves by their nicknames...

Out of earshot of Snape if memory serves.  The Penseive gives much 
wider perspective of a memory than was there at the time of the 
event.  It seems to be like a camera long shot, rather than a 
subjective Snape POV shot (using movie as metaphor here).  In this 
sequence it is made clear that Snape is almost unaware of anyone's 
existence except his own - he leaves his DADA exam in an almost 
dreamlike state.  He then sits at some distance from MWPP to further 
peruse his exam paper - and no doubt go over his answers in his 
head. (Ever done that after an exam? I certainly have and remembered 
doing so when I read this chapter for the first time).  He is some 
distance away and therefore possibly cannot hear their conversation, 
as well as entirely focused on something else.  Therefore it cannot 
be asserted confidently that he did hear or know their nicknames 
from that scene.  

When he has actual contact with them in the bullying part of the 
scene, his concentration is either on getting his own back, or 
getting away, then overshadowed by the humiliation, and again I 
suggest that he may not hear or register any nicknames used.  

Accordingly, this scene does not provide evidence that he knows who 
Moony, et al are, and therefore it is possible that while he might 
suspect who they are when he sees the Marauder's Map (and I DO 
believe he has a very good idea in POA), there is no guarantee that 
he does know for certain.

And incidentally, whether or not Adult!Snape is a vampire (he isn't 
and Kneasy's last post was so spot on I can't reply, as "Me too!" is 
forbidden on this list) it is patently obvious from the Penseive 
scene that he wasn't at age 16.  

June