Pensieve memories dups or originals?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 140939

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman"
<susiequsie23 at s...> wrote:
> ...edited...
> 
> 
> SSSusan:
> It may be an inconsistency, but then again, it may be that there are 
> *options* for how to use the pensieve.  Perhaps it's like when we're 
> editing something in a word processing program or in e-mail.  We 
> highlight the text and then we have the *option* of COPY or CUT.  
> Perhaps with Snape in the Occlumency lessons, he selected CUT, 
> whereas Slughorn selected COPY.
> 
> Oh, stop sniggering.  It's a possibility, right?  :-)
> 
> Siriusly Snapey Susan

bboyminn:

Actually, I think you have hit it right on the head. Except instead of
saying COPY or CUT, I would say CALL or RECALL.

Memories are tricky things. Ever go back to your childhood home? Was
everything the way you remembered it? Probably not. As we get older,
we don't actually remember a specific event. What we remember is the
last time we remembered it; secondary memories. Eventually the
original memory is lost and we simply remember the memories rather
than the event.

How does this apply? I'm glad you ask, but first let me ask a
question. If pulling the memory strand from your head completely
removed the memory, then how would you even know to look at it in the
Pensieve since, in theory, you no longer had a memory of the event? Of
course, the answer is secondary memories. You remember pulling it out.
You remember thinking about WHAT you wanted to pull out and why. You
remember the last time you remembered this memory. So, even if you
remove an event from memory, you have plenty of secondary memories to
remind you that the event occurred.

So, finally to CALL and RECALL. Calling up a memory is calling to the
forefront of your mind the original event. If you remove this, the
details of the orginal event are lost (well, actually stored), though
your many secondary memories remain. If you Recall an event, that is
the equivalent of bringing forth a copy of the event to the forefront
of your mind. If this is removed, the original event remains. 

Slughorn obviousl /recalled/ the event and gave Harry and Dumbledore
that copy. On the other hand, Snape who fully intended to hide his
memories, /call/ forth the original event and stored it in the
Penseive. His secondary memories are too vague and non-visual to
reveal anything to Harry if they were forced from him, so he is safe.
His secondary memories also allow him to remember which memories
should be put back after the fact.

Of course, I'm making all this up, but you must admit it does have a
nice ring to it.


Steve/bboyminn