Severus Snape and Davey Gudgeon

[a_b_desert_king]

No: HPFGUIDX 93587

I was re-reading PoA trying to find a particular reference for 
another post (which suddenly seems to be of minimal importance.  
Guess I'll have to do that one later)and came across this:

 'I heard about the match,' said Lupin, turning back to his desk and 
starting to pile books into his briefcase, 'and I'm sorry about your 
broomstick. Is there any chance of fixing it?'
 'No,' said Harry. 'The tree smashed it to bits.'
 Lupin sighed.
 'They planted the Whomping Willow the same year that I arrived at 
Hogwarts. People used to play a game, trying to get near enough to 
touch the trunk. In the end, a boy called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost 
an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it. No broomstick would 
have a chance.'
- Prisoner of Azkaban, Canadian Ed 1999, pg 139

Ok - so we know that to tame the Whomping Willow, one needs to touch 
a certain knot *on the trunk* of the tree.  And we know that Snape 
was the subject of a prank played by the marauders where they told 
him how to get past the Whomping Willow.  And we know that they got 
into *a lot* of trouble with DD for that prank.  

Could it be possible that Lupin is down-playing the near-injury (and 
protecting the secret of his werewolf heritage in the process)? 

And, could it be possible that Davey Gudgeon = Severus Snape?

I realize that SS is known in OotP to Lily, James, Sirius, Peter and 
Remus as Severus (or more accurately, Snivellus *g*), but perhaps 
that was how he wanted to be named, rather than by his *real* name 
which was Davey.  Choosing the name Severus could be his symbolic 
way of *sever*ing his ties with his family and terrible childhood.

We know that JKR doesn't mention names without reason.  What does 
this mean beyond the fact that SS has a truly human name?  Perhaps 
it's an indication that SS is less than pure-blood (Davey is a 
pretty Muggle sounding name to me, although Gudgeon is more magical 
sounding) and part of his choice in the name Severus had to do with 
sounding more like a pure-blood.  I'd be interested to see how 
everyone else sees this.

Heather