CHAPT DICUSS 15 The Unbreakable Vow

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 152341

Betsy Hp:

> > Because both Trelawney and Snape are Slugclub  
> > members.  Trelawney, like McLaggen and Blaise, is 
> > there because of  her family (her grandmother 
> > Cassandra, the famous seerer).

houyhnhnm:

Actually, Cassandra was Sybill's great-great-grandmother.  If she is
still alive (and she could be in a world where some people live to be
150+), then I take your point.  Otherwise I doubt merely having a
famous relative would earn her a place in Slughorn' inner circle.  It
appears to me that famous relatives are only a ticket in if they are
potentially useful to Horace.  Look how fast he drops Marcus Belby. 
And while Draco may use his grandfather's name to save face after
being dragged into Slughorn's party by the ear, the relationship
didn't get him an invite. 

Nikkalmati:

> I was puzzled about Snape's presence at the party 
> more than Trelawney's. It  doesn't seem that he is the 
> party type at all.  Especially as they were the only 
> faculty there.  Was he watching Harry?  But then why 
> wasn't he  watching Draco instead?

houyhnhnm:

I have been wondering if he was there in his capacity as Dumbledore's
hound, to watch (out for) Trelawney.  Her presence at the party is
still not adequately explained, IMO. There appear to be quite a few
guests from outside of Hogwarts: Sanguini (love it), the elderly
warlocks deep in conversation under a cloud a pipe smoke. The party
posed a potential security risk, it seems to me.  Trelawney could have
been in danger. Now that I think of it, Snape may *have* been there to
keep an eye on Harry, for the same reason. And there may have been
some shady characters at the party of interest to the Order.  I guess
all of the above could have contributed to the reason for Snape's
being at the party, along with the fact that, as Slytherin HOH, an
invitation from the former Slytherin HOH was not an obligation Snape
could slither out of.  

Nikkalmati:

> It doesn't seem to me that he and Slughorn are  that 
> close, although Slughorn should have been interested 
> in "collecting"  SS.  Snape appears tolerant of being 
> a bit manhandled here. So maybe  he was in the Slug 
> club, but Slughorn does not praise Snape as he would 
> one  of his collection. 

houyhnhnm:

His two "even Severus" remarks at the party amount to pretty high
praise indirectly, but I, too, was struck by the fact that in all
Slughorn's reminiscing about the good old days, and along with all his
praise of Lily, I can't remember his ever mentioning Snape.