Interpretation (was Re: Dumbledore's “peaceful expression”?

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 141866

On the beach of Theory Bay, Neri sits on a large cannon engraved with 
the words "The Missing 5 Hours" and considers Potioncat's words.

> "No, and I don't plan to," She answers. "You may recall that not 
too 
> long along I congratulated you because your ideas about Snape's 
delay 
> had taken on canon-like status among some of the list members?

<snip>

> "But it's not at all unusual for a post to begin with, 'Remember 
when 
> Snape postponed informing the Order' and then adding some thoughts 
> based on that theory. Now, perhaps the writer knows they're adding 
to 
> an interpretation, or perhaps by now, the writer has forgotten that 
> it is interpretation. Or the person reading the post may not have 
> been around when the discussion first occurred."

Neri:
You know, Potioncat, this is indeed something I wanted to ask you the 
previous time you congratulated me on the canon-like status of 
Snape's delay. I'd really love to be such an influential member as 
you present me, but unfortunately I must confess that I never came 
across all those posters that regard Snape's delay as canon. So I've 
just ran a search in Yahoomort for "snape" and "delay" (I must 
commend Yahoo for the new summaries with the searched words bolded, 
which makes such projects much easier). In order not to risk missing 
any of my devoted admirers I also ran separately "snape" 
and "postpon"; "snape" and "stall". The results were, ahem, slightly 
disappointing. I found maybe 20 posts or so arguing *against* Snape 
delaying since the original thread. I also found several of my own 
posts, mainly answering the opposing posts. I found all of 8 posts by 
5 members total, other than myself, that argued *for* Snape delaying, 
and none of them present it in a way that might be mistaken for a 
canon fact. Some of them write "I agree with these arguments" and the 
like. Some ask "did Snape stall?" and note that the time difference 
looks suspicious. None of them uses Snape's delay as a given for 
supporting an ESE!Snape theory, or any other theory. 

Now, if I somehow missed all those list members that take my word for 
canon, can you please please point me to them, so I can properly 
gloat about it? I promise to send each of them a personal e-mail 
explaining that Snape's delay isn't canon. But only after a proper 
gloating <g>.

> Potioncat waves toward the bay and Neri sees a small version of a 
> Viking ship in the middle of the bay. The ship is draped in black 
and 
> contains a bier. "I give you SLEEP.  Sleeping Leader Enjoys Eternal 
> Peace."
> 

Neri:
I always welcome another ship in the Bay. The more the merrier. Of 
course, I might try a few shots at it in the future.

> Potioncat:
> "Now, how about a name for Snape's delay?"

Neri:
Oh gee, it takes me months to come up with an acronym. I think I 
like "The Missing 5 Hours" best. You see, this isn't really a theory 
but an observation, like the famous Missing 24 Hours, regarding a 
suspicious timing hole in the plot. As I recently wrote, JKR might as 
well leave it as is, or plug it with some excuse, or she might give 
it a role in the plot. But the hole is there regardless. We can also 
continue to argue (and I'm sure we will) what Snape did about it, and 
should he have done more, but this isn't a theory too, it's an 
argument. So I prefer The Missing 5 Hours. Wasn't it you who 
originally coined it? You were always good at this stuff.

Neri