Worst Memory for Whom?

[ludmila souza]

No: HPFGUIDX 127481


Chrusotoxos <heos at virgilio.it> wrote:
> <snip>
> I mean, the memory of Snape's 5th year was his own worst 
> memory or the worst Harry could see (because it would 
> undermine his love for his father James)?
>
> Is Snape so devious? Did he really leave that memory behind 
> for Harry to see?


I believe that's the worst memory in Harry's POV. Because, up until then, his father was a hero, a perfect guy: excellent student, excellent Quidditch player, loving father and husband... James was practically a saint. Then, Harry finds out through someone else's memory that there are holes in his shining armour. He gets sick to his stomach, having been bullied himself. He even wonders about how his parents got together later on...
 
That was a turning point for Harry and his relationship with his 
dead father. It was so powerful that he risks a lot by contacting Sirius in order to find out more about what he had seen. His image 
of his heroic father was forever shattered, but I don't believe it 
was irreparably damaged.
 
Furthermore, Snape is a former Death Eater. He has got to have 
seen worse things done by Lord Voldemort and his minions than 
being bullied by James and the Gang. It wouldn't surprise me if 
Snape himself had done some of those horrible deeds. So, it can't 
have been Snape's worse memories, IMHO.
 
I am not so sure that Snape left the Pensieve on purpose for Harry 
to find out. He was way too distraught when he caught Harry looking 
into it. If he was intent on him finding it out, he'd been cooler 
about it.
 
Ludmila