Time lines (was Re: CHAPDISC3: HBP 3, WILL AND WON’T, continued

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 142717

> 
> Carol responds:
> As has already been noted, not just the first three but the first 
four
> chapters seem to take place at approximately the same time on the 
same
> night (and involve unexpected visitors in a different Muggle
> location). Chapter 1 begins at just before midnight on what appears 
to
> be a Friday night (both the Muggle PM and Fudge talk about the week
> they've been having). Chapter 2 seems to follow immediately 
afterward,
> as the fog shifts from London to the industrial north. I'd say it
> can't be much past 1:00 as the action (as opposed to the flashbacks)
> in chapter 1 can't take much time. It might even be earlier, say
> around 12:30 when Narcissa and Bellatrix Apparate into the vicinity 
of
> Spinner's End. Chapter 3 backtracks and we have a sleeping Harry
> waiting for 11:00 on what is definitely a Friday night. The clock
> strikes midnight in the next chapter and there's enough talk and
> action to make the events at Slughorn's occur at roughly the same 
time
> as "Spinner's End," or only slightly before, so that Slughorn's
> acceptance of the Potions appointment occurs while Snape is talking
> with the Black sisters--making him officially the DADA teacher and
> subject to the DADA curse just in time for Narcissa to propose the 
UV.

Potioncat:
All three chapters begin late at night. It does seem to me that 
chapter two follows chapter one on the same night, given the wording 
as chapter two opens. I'm not as clear about chapter three. Couldn't 
this be a week later?

Harry has a letter from three days ago (Tuesday?) saying DD would 
like Harry to go on a visit with him bfore going to the Weasley 
house. If this is all the same night, then DD had already decided to 
make Snape DADA days before. When Narcissa gets to Spinner's End, 
Snape is already the DADA teacher and knows it. DD is actively 
seeking a Potions Master and in particular, wants Slughorn. I don't 
think Slughorn's acceptance or rejection of the offer would change 
Snape's position.

So the time line would be 
Tuesday: DD has decided to make Snape DADA. He writes to Harry and is 
already planning to visit Slughorn with the offer. I assume Snape 
already knows as well.

Friday: the UV is made, Harry and DD visit Slughorn who agrees to be 
DADA.

OR
Friday: the UV is made (unclear if Snape is already DADA)
Tuesday: DD writes letter and plans to meet with Slughorn
Friday following: Slughorn accepts.

Actually, I think Carol's timeline makes more sense...although 4 
chapters that only last a few hours between them is pretty amazing. 
It also depends on whether DD decided to make Snape DADA because of 
the UV, or if Snape fell into the UV because he was already DADA.

Potioncat, who had other ideas when she first asked about the 3 (4) 
chapters working together, but now sees this very good reason!