Unreliable narrator - The Snape Timeline

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 117123


Someone did an excellent analysis of the timeline on the night that
Harry and friend flew off to the Ministry to rescue Sirius. That link
was reference earlier in this thread. The basic analysis of sunrise,
sunset, and twilight have led to the conclusion that we are dealing
with a 5 hour timespan between when Harry enters the forest and when
the Order members rescue him. (approx 8pm to 1am)

Some seem to think that this is an unreasonably long period of time,
and therefore implies some grand conspiracy or neglegence on Snape's
part. However, as much as I am not a Snape Apologist, I don't see the
timeline as that far fetched.

First, while we are tracking Harry movements and know what is going
on, Snape does not have this knowledge. Once the leaves Umbridge's
office, all he knows is that Harry has been breaking school rules
again, gotten caught, and Harry seems to be under the unlikely belief
that Voldemort has Sirius in the Ministry of Magic. Something that
would be extremely difficult for anyone to believe.

But just in case, Snape contacts Grimmauld Place and discovers Sirius
is safe and sound, in his mind, case closed. 

So what does Snape do? He goes to his office, makes a nice cup of tea,
and sits back sipping it, savoring all the deliciously nasty things
Umbridge is likely to do to Harry and friends, all the while thinking
that the little brat deserves it for all the rules he breaks. About
time some one took him to task for this.

Umbridge has Harry, Sirius is safe, certainly no need for panic and
indeed not even any real need to be concerned. Although, I'm sure
Snape is unaware of the depths to which Umbridge would stoop. An hour
to a couple hours go by, and Snape finds out that Umbridge has taken
Harry and Hermione into the forest, and that some time after that, Ron
and Co manager to escape from Draco, and gone into (most likely) the
forest after them. I suspect he finds this out all at once after the
fact. Draco probably came running to Snape so he could whine and cry
on his shoulder. (Once he recovered from the Curse of the Bat Bogies
that is.)

Certainly, at time for concern, but still no reason to panic. Harry
and Hermione are afteral in the company of an armed adult witch. The
situation could be unpleasant, but mostly for Harry at the hands of
Umbridge, so again, no reason for Snape to panic. Nothing to do but
wait for them to return, and fantasize about how many detentions Harry
will get for this little mess, or hopefully, expelled.

Now another two hours goes by, and Snape is probably becoming
seriously concerned, but Umbridge is with them in the forest, and even
she wouldn't be stupid enough to wander too deeply into danger.
(Little does he know.) Eventually, he starts to think that perhaps
Harry found a way to get to London. But how? There are not likely to
be any Floo powered fires in the forest. He can't apparate. They might
have sneaked back to the school and taken a couple of brooms from the
Quidditch Broom Cupboard. But even at 100mph, assuming they could
withstand the cold for that long, it would take them over four hours
to get to London by broom. 

Now it's getting in the vicinity of midnight, plus or minus, and Snape
decides to tell the Order that Harry may still be attempting to get to
London. Again, cause for concern, but not necessarily panic. It's a
long trip from Hogwarts to London. At this time maybe Snape searches
the forest, maybe he didn't, doesn't matter because it doesn't affect
the timeline; that's been transfered to the Order. 

The Order thinks on the possibilities for a while, and decides that
perhaps, it might be best to check things out. Sounds simple, but
under normal circumstances there should be a night guard at the
Ministry, and they need a good cover story for why a half a dozen of
them are barging in there in the middle of the night. Naturally, they
can't take Sirius with them, it going to be hard enough explaining to
the guard, or anyone else, why they are there without have to explain
Sirius's presents too. 

Eventually, they can't delay any longer, and right on the timeline,
they appear at the Ministry, soon followed by Sirius, who took an
unbelievable risk going to the Ministry. Now all they have to do is
find Harry. Logically, he is most likely in the Dept of Mysteries, but
where, it's a big place.

Eventually the whole Order crew is standing in the circular room
wondering which door to pick. I would suspect they would try and go to
the Hall of Prophecies first, where they would find evidence of mayhem
and distruction. Where to next? Well, at this time, Harry is having a
quiet conversation with Lucius in the Death Chamber; not scuffling or
fighting at this point. Difficult for the Order to hear them.

Eventualy, right on time according to the timeline, they burst into
the Death Chamber and to the rescue. 

It's important to put yourself outside the situation. We, as readers,
have great knowledge of what is actualy going on, but Snape and the
Order know nothing other than Umbridge took Harry and Hermione into
the forest on some unlikely and ill-conceived mission; commonly
referred to in the muggle world as a Wild Goose Chase. That's not much
to go on. Snape, given his lack of knowledge of the real events, has
no reason to panic or do anything other that wait for Harry to come
back to the castle.

You can read it how you want, but that timeline fits as far as I can see.

Steve/bboyminn (was bboy_mn)