Snape as Borgin

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 114227

Gregory wrote:
> > No, I'm not suggesting [that Snape uses a time-turner to leave
Hogwarts and assume Mr. Borgin's identity]. We have no idea whatsoever
how much time Borgin spends in the shop. It's obviously often enough
that Malfoy can become familiar with him but beyond that we know  nothing.
> > 
> > Once people have the ability to apparate, all travel concerns are
eliminated so it is completely possible for there to be some sort of
sensor that informs Snape when certain people enter the shop so Snape
can apparate there, transform, and come out from the back.  
> > That's probably stretching things, but he needn't necessarily be 
there all the time.  After all, Borgin has a partner doesn't he?
>  
Siriusly Snapey Susan responded:
> True enough, he has a partner.  But I can't imagine Snape could be 
> there often at all.  I mean, he CAN'T apparate out of Hogwarts; he'd 
> have to leave the grounds and then apparate; or use the floo 
> network.  He'd have to have an instant-acting potion which would 
> change his appearance for those quick "pop-ins" to the shop.  And, 
> presumably, business hours at B&B would overlap a lot with classroom 
> time at Hogwarts.  I just think if this were happening fairly 
> routinely--or even just a couple of times a month--the kids would 
> notice that Snape was missing from the Head Table again, or there'd 
> be a substitute in Potions class, or etc.  
> 
> Unless Mr. Burkes is pulling the vast majority of the duty, I don't 
> see how Severus could be swinging this.  But it *would* be a good
way to gather that information if he could manage it!
> 
> 

Carol adds:
I agree with SSS on all points--you can't apparate from Hogwarts and
Snape is burdened with duties, especially during the school year,
which would make an alter-identity as Mr. Borgin or anyone else
extremely difficult--though I do concede that this particular
encounter between Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Borgin occurred before the school
year began, so it's at least possible that Snape was assuming the role
of Borgin in this one instance. But I don't think, for one thing, that
Snape would have muttered to himself after Malfoy left, a habit that
would be dangerous for any spy. And I don't think that Snape would
want his activities restricted, trapped in a shop when he'd rather be
out risking his life for the Order. Also Snape has a distinctive
speaking style and I catch no echo of it in Borgin's words.

OTOH, I do think that Mr. Borgin was introduced for a reason and that
we're supposed to remember him and his muttered words in CoS. (The ads
in the Daily News section of JKR's site are also probably intended to
remind us of him and his shop, as I said in another post.) It's quite
possible that Professor Snape and Mr. Borgin are working together in
some way, that Borgin is collecting information and passing it on to
Snape, who no doubt has to spend time in Knockturn Alley between
school terms to buy potion ingredients. IOW, I wouldn't be at all
surprised if Mr. Borgin were another of Dumbledore's "useful spies,"
as Fudge calls them in PoA. And Mr. Ollivander may serve the same role
in Diagon Alley.

Carol