How recently did SS write in Potions book?

[spotsgal]

No: HPFGUIDX 141709

> ~aussie 
> - Why call himself a Half-Blood while in Slytherin?
> 

Christina:

*claps*  In all the discussions I've had with friends and family about
HBP, nobody seems to be as bothered as I am about this fact.  I wrote
about the possible ties between the HBP's nickname and Snape/Lily
(friendship, romantic love...opinion tends to differ) in this post:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/139019

If you go upthread a bit, you can hit the beginning of a great
discussion on LOLLIPOPS...but I digress.

> aussie:
> "Sectumsempra" may have come at another time ... and like-wise, 
> Snape refering to himself as the "Half-Blood Prince" may have been 
> after he returned as teacher.

Christina:

That's true, but why?  Who would he be using that nickname with?  He
is pleasant with McGonagall, I suppose, but they aren't bosom buddies.
 He would never use that kind of a nickname with his Death Eater friends.

> aussie
> That would also explain how Harry could surpass Snape in potions 
> during Severus's student years according to Slughorn. Why?, because 
> some techniques were added on after Snape finished being a student.

Christina:

I think that Harry could surpass Snape ("I don't think even you,
Severus...") because Snape had to go through the process of research,
where Harry did not.  I think you're referring to the scene where
Slughorn tells Snape about Harry's perfect brewing of the Draught of
Living Death.  Snape probably produced a very fine first try of the
potion, and then went back, looked at the theory, and refined it. 
Harry had the results of Snape's research in his hands right from the
start (bypassing any trial and error), and that's why he was able to
brew the potion.  A lot of characters in JKR's world showed
considerable talent as children (Fred and George are little marketing
geniuses, James and Sirius became Animagi as students, Dumbledore blew
his OWL proctors away, etc, etc).  I think Snape is probably meant to
run in this same vein.  


>Stephanie:
>
>Somethine just occured to me, while reading this post. Could it be
>that although this was Snape's book, that someone else was writing in
>it also. Perhaps a potions study partner? Maybe HBP was someone's
>(Lily's??) nickname for SS and that this person wrote it in the book.
>If I recall, it was written in a "feminine hand".

Christina:

Harry never comments on two different styles of handwriting that I
recall, so the notes must have all been written by the same person.  I
think that the nickname HBP *did* have something to do with Lily, and
I think that the two kids were friends (why else have her good at
Potions?), but whether that's true or not, I am highly confident that
all of the notes in the Potions book were written by Snape.  The
handwriting issue has come up on this list a lot- I've addressed the
issue several times.  The most complete and concise post on the topic
is by Carol:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/140373

The post is part of a HUGE thread on the subject that starts right
about here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/140320


Christina