The Key to Snape?

[koinonia02]

No: HPFGUIDX 139192

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com

 "M.Clifford" (Message 139154)

>I can't yet say I am abolutely sure that your guess about Lily is
>correct, Derek. But what I cn say is that your post got e thinking
>exactly how to narrow down the item list of things in the 
>Pensieve - SWM. Which would be something like:

>James and Sirius teasing him.
>His underwear getting shown off.
>Lily coming to his rescue.
>Using the Sectumsempra curse.
>Insulting Lily.

> Couldn't we use canon to eliminate them down to one.
 

"K":

How about adding another one.

____________________________________________

"You – wait," he panted, staring up at James with an expression
of purest loathing. "You – wait
"

"Wait for what?" said Sirius coolly. "What're you going to do, 
Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?"
oop/ch 28/pg 646/us

"I told you to empty yourself of emotion!"

"Yeah? Well, I'm finding that hard at the moment," Harry snarled.

"Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord!" said 
Snape savagely. "Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their 
sleeves, who cannot control their emotions, who wallow in sad 
memories and allow themselves to be provoked this easily – weak 
people, in other words – they stand no chance against his powers!
oop/ch 24/pg 536/us
_____________________________________________



The key words are, IMO:

~ What're you going to do? 

~ "You – wait"

Become a Death Eater. Could make for a very bad memory. Possibly the 
breaking point of a person tired of being bullied (James & Sirius). 
Two people who are now, by the way, dead.

~ Easy prey for the Dark Lord
~ Cannot control their emotions
~ Sad memories
~ Weak

Have always thought Snape was talking about himself.

~~~

So, Snape decides after this incident to become a DE, which in turn 
led to his running to Voldemort with the Prophecy, which eventually 
led to the death of Lily, who was a true friend. 

The chapter title is *Snape's Worst Memory*. Not *The Memory We 
Didn't See* or *A Memory from Harry's POV*. This is Snape's worst 
memory.