Why is Slughorn raving about Lily instead of Snape?

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 133989

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Florentine Maier"
<florentinemaier at h...> wrote:
> I find it highly peculiar that Slughorn constantly compares Harry's 
> potions ability to Lily's. Slughorn must have been teaching Snape too, 
> who has been in the same year as Lily. Wouldn't it make more sense if 
> Harry reminded him of Snape?
> 
> Possible theories...
> a) Snape invented the improved potions recipies but never put them into 
> practice in class but passed them on to Lily instead. (Highly, 
> unlikely, since Snape apparently didn't like "mudblood" Lily.)
> b) Lily found out all the potion improvements and practiced them in 
> class. Snape copied down everything she did in his book. While he had 
> been an average student, he later became a great potions master by 
> imitating Lily.
> 
> I'd love to know your opinion.
> Florentine

Per Dumbledore, Slughorn is a "collector". He likes to surround
himself with influential people, which in turn makes him influential
through his contacts. Slughorn's activities with his Slug Club
confirms this. 

I know people like this in the real world. Frankly, they're kiss-ups.
They'll drop names and use flattery to impress. I think that's what
he's doing to Harry. The constant praising of Lily is a way to flatter
Harry, but Harry's not taking the bait. If you re-read the Slughorns
luncheon on the Hogwarts Express, you'll see that flattery in
particular with Marcus Belby and Uncle Damoceles. Slughorn is kissing
Marcus's rear-end...until he finds out that Marcus and Uncle Damoceles
aren't close, then Slughorn turns his attention to Cormac McLaggen and
so on. Let's face it, will all the sucking up Slughorn was doing, it's
a wonder why they didn't nickname him "Hoover".

Milz