Of Pensieves and Potions

[Gregory Lynn]

No: HPFGUIDX 125797

Just tossing in another two cents on the pensieve cover and the
possibilities thereof.

We know that a pensieve is basically a bowl with some stuff in it that
can hold and display memories using some sort of magical process.  Is
it the bowl that is magical or is it the stuff inside?  It seems
possible that the stuff inside is the physical manifestation of the
memories contained therein but I don't know that there's any real
evidence to prove it.

What if the bowl is irrelevant, only used because that's what you keep
liquids in when you want to have ready access to them?

What if it is the stuff that is magical?  It's described as "light
made liquid" or "wind made solid."  If it's magical and liquid,
wouldn't that make it a potion?

Now look at what it does.  It saves memories.  Our memories—our
experiences filtered through our own perceptions—are a big part of who
we are.  If Harry had memories of his parents, his life would be much
different.

Imagine if you wanted to cheat death.  Imagine you wanted to find a
way to save that which makes up your identity should anything happen. 
Wouldn't saving your memories be a good starting point?  Isn't it
possible that Snape's job as a Death Eater was to work on turning the
pensieve potion (assuming it is one) into something that could hold
not just memories but all the other mental aspects of our identity?

We know that Voldemort had a potion to bring his body back.  Seems to
me that only makes sense if you also have a way to bring back the non
physical aspects of yourself too—or that you at least have a
reasonable expectation of having it soon.

The potion that brings your body back requires the blood of an enemy. 
I don't think it would be all that unremarkable if the potion to bring
your mind back required the mind (or at least some portion of the
mind) of an enemy.  With Lily and James dead, and nobody understanding
the significance of Harry's survival, or perhaps simply Harry's
inaccessibility, wouldn't Voldemort's greatest remaining enemy be the
Longbottoms?

Imagine this.

Snape is working on a death-cheating potion for Lord Thingy.  He
develops the potion for bringing back bodies and is close to
completing the mind potion as well when someone else gets it done
first.  This other guy becomes Voldie's most favored potion maker. 
Snape, who prides himself on his abilities is ashamed of the fact that
he didn't get it done first and angered that someone else is the most
favored potion maker.

Snape leaves the Death Eaters not out of any nobility but because he's
ashamed, angry, and jealous.  From the outside, it's the kind of thing
that would look like a redemptive pattern but really be something else
entirely.  And don't we have some words from Rowling on the supposed
redemptive qualities in Snape?

Voldemort seemingly made it clear to his Death Eaters that he had
taken steps to protect himself from death and yet they didn't search
for him en masse when he disappeared.  Why?  Clearly they didn't
believe him.  But Bellatrix did.  Why?  Perhaps she was the one who
developed the potion that worked and thus knew that there was a chance
of Voldemort coming back.

So once Voldemort meets Harry that night at Godric's Hollow, and
disappears, Bellatrix goes to his enemies to get the ingredients.  We
are told that Bellatrix et al crucio-ed the Longbottoms into insanity
but how would anyone know?  We don't know if anyone was there who can
provide direct evidence.  Suppose it wasn't crucio'ing that drove the
Longbottoms insane but rather that Bellatrix stole their minds to use
them in a potion to bring Voldemort back.

It's all supposition of course but I think it makes for further
interesting speculation.  It would explain why Bellatrix seems to be
favored by Lord Voldie.  It would explain why they attacked the
Longbottoms rather than anyone else.  It would explain how Dumbledore
can trust Snape not to go back to Voldemort.

I would assume that Snape would not stop just because someone else did
it.  He would want to do it better.

And perhaps he has.  And perhaps that is what's on the cover, a potion
that would protect Harry's life should Voldemort come get him. 
Wouldn't that be akin to refereeing the quidditch match first year? 
If Snape saves Harry's life permanently, he can go on hating James'
memory forever.


-- 
Gregory Lynn