Snape's worst memory - my own take on this

[Julia]

No: HPFGUIDX 137285

> Maria:
<snip>
> I believe that Snape pulled the memory on purpose for Harry to 
see. Why 
> would anyone who has something to hide do it in front of the 
person you 
> want to hide it from? If Snape really wanted to keep this memory 
of his 
> secret, he had plenty of time to pull it out of his head and into 
the 
> pensieve before Harry showed up for class. Harry didn't need to 
know at 
> all that Snape was hiding anything. However, Snape waits for Harry 
to 
> arrive, from day 1, to do this. In my opinion he is teasing Harry 
by 
> doing so, and Harry of course is really curious about this, so 
much 
> that at the first chance he gets, he looks. Not only was Snape's 
> behavior provoking, but also what we see in the pensieve is more 
> damaging to Harry than to Snape. Really, what did we see? A kid 
being 
> teased by some bullies, but who hasn't been teased? Who doesn't 
have an 
> embarrassing memory? Does this really qualify as a "worst memory 
ever"? 
> Unless the worst part is what came next, which I agree is a very 
> appealing prospect, I think that seeing this memory hurt Harry 
more 
> than it did Snape.
> 

Julia:

That's really a good theory! I like it because it explains in some 
way why did Harry see that particular memory at all (I mean there 
were at least 2 other so why did he entered that one? it cant be a 
coincidence!)

I also agree with you on the fact that seeing this memory by Harry 
is more devastating to him than to Snape... In fact Harry already 
knew that Sirius and James hated Snape (he knew about the Prank, he 
witnessed Sirius and Severus at the end of PoA and in Grimmauld 
Place in OotP) It wasn't that hard to guess that Snape was hexed on 
numerous occasions (by Sirius and James) during his schooldays. The 
surprising fact was the actual behaviour of James Potter which 
really hurted Harry and shattered his view of his perfect father... 
Isn't that what Snape always tried to do? If he planned to do this 
during Occlumency lessons he certainly succeeded! (SS isn't stupid 
he must have known that leaving Harry in his office would be a 
tempting situation for him!)
BTW -> how on earth could Snape leave Harry in his office alone??? I 
can't understand that! Even if he was in a hurry he always in every 
situation stayed cool and remember to do what he was supposed to. I 
can't imagine any of my teachers ever leaving a student alone in 
his/her office! Even though i didn't have such a relationship with a 
teacher as Harry has with Snape...

Julia