Half-Blood hints/Matchbox

[Kristen]

No: HPFGUIDX 145625

Potion Cat said:
"A bad idea, Professor Lockhart, said Snape, gliding over like a
large and malevolent bat. "Longbottom causes devastation with the
simplest spells. We'll be sending what's left of Finch-Fletchley up
to the hospital wing in a matchbox." Neville's round, pink face went
pinker.*****

This line is so good, they kept it in the movie, though they changed
Longbottom to Weasley and Finch-Fletchley to Potter. It's such a
great line! But one thing used to bother me about it: Why the heck
would a wizard ever need a matchbox? How would a wizard even know
about matches or matchboxes? And it hit me, was this a hint of
Snape's background? And more importantly, are there more hints? If
anyone is currently re-re-re-reading the books, speak up if you see
any other hints.


Now Hexicon:
I like this idea, but in PoA doesn't someone say that Pettigrew's 
mother received his remains in a matchbox?  I can't seem to find it 
in the book though--movie contamination?