Why leave the book?

[Rachel]

No: HPFGUIDX 136976

<jmoses22002 at y...> 
> wrote:
> > Why would Snape leave the HBP book in his old potions class?  


rae_nd:
Remember, these "Lender" books were not often used, since NEWT
students generally know ahead of time what they will be taking and
come prepared.  Not to mention that if they have already had Snape as
a teacher, they will be none too eager to have to borrow a book at any
time.  I don't imagine these books gotten much use in recent years. 
Snape may not even realize it's there.  

If Snape does know that his book is with the other extras, here's a
hypothetical situation:  A favorite student forgets his copy of
Advanced Potions, trusts that he won't get in trouble (think Draco's
unnoticed tardiness), asks to use an extra book, Snape slips his HBP
copy to his favorite student with a smirk, this student has a
spectacular potion-making day, thinks about holding onto this great
book, but Snape collects it before class is over.  Easy way to give a
small reward to a favorite student.

Once Snape got the DADA position, I would imagine that his old book is
the last thing on his mind.  Of course, upon seeing Sectumsempra used
on Draco, he realized what has happened.  Imagine how infuriating that
would be for Snape, if indeed he had once used his HBP book as a
special reward for his favorites.  Just a thought.  



Kristen:
> I doubt that Snape had any ulterior motive for leaving the book in the 
> classroom. If it indeed belongs to him, he may have placed it in his 
> classroom as a reference and forgot to remove it when he became DADA 
> professor. It was purely chance that Harry received that particular 
> book. It could have just as easily gone to Ron. 
<SNIP>


rae_nd
I think that the book ending up with Harry could be one of two things:
pure coincidence, or Slughorn's doing.  Having noticed that it had
some helpful hints in it (teachers don't have time to look at every
page of every spare book), Slughorn may have been glad for the chance
to offer a little extra help to his Beloved Harry.


rae_nd