How recently did SS write in Potions book?

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 141755

> > CV: Apparently not. Teen!Snape used sectupsempra on James.
> > 
> > Snape's Worst Memory (p 647, US ed.)
> > 
> > "Bad luck, Prongs," said Sirius briskly, turning back to 
> Snape. "OY!"
> > 
> > But too late; Snape had directed his wand straight at James;  
> > there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of  
> > James's face,splattering his robes with blood.
> > 
> > CV
> 
> ~aussie~
> How's your Latin? or Spanish at least?
> 
> "SECTUP" sounds like "to diSECT" like what macabre biology teachers 
> get students to do with frogs .... so that part is "to CUT"
> 
> "SEMPRA" sounds like "siempre" in Spanish. That means "ALWAYS". 

> ~aussie~
> So the curse used against James may have been "SECTUP", but 
> not "SECTUPSEMPRA" causing multiple cuts like Draco got.
> ~aussie~

zgirnius:
Hi! I agree with Constance Vigilance on this, Snape was using 
Sectumsempra in the Pensieve scene. I've kept her canon description 
of this instance of the spell, let's see how Harry uses it.

   "Sectumsempra!" bellowed Harry from the floor, waving his wand 
wildly.
   Blood spurted from Malfoy's gace and chest as though he had been 
slashed with an invisible sword.

To me this suggests not 'multiple' cuts, but exactly two (face and 
chest), the same as would be produced by a single wide slash upwards 
with a sword which hit both chest and face Real Life. (Already more 
than enough to be lethal in RL...)

The reason for the difference in effect could be attributable to the 
differences we are shown in the two instances. One is the wand 
motion. Snape points, in a controlled manner, and hits the (limited) 
target he is aiming for. Result: a surgical cut to a specific are of 
James' face. Harry casts the curse having no idea what it does, while 
in a desperate position, and 'wildly'. Result: a wide and deep gash 
across a good part of Draco's upper body.

'Cuts always', the translation of the curse's name you offer, is open 
to more than one interpretation. For causing multiple cuts with a 
simple curse, wouldn't you want 'cuts often' or 'cuts a lot'? 
(Souvent or beaucoup in French, my romance language, no idea what 
those are in Spanish or Latin.) Perhaps it can cut into anything and 
cuts always in that sense?