Snape finding Lily's Letter

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 174197


>
> Jen:  
> > I've been reading this thread, trying to imagine the 
> > explanation coming up in the story and failing to think of a 
> > legitimate reason why it would.  
> 
> Ceridwen:
> Since others are offering up alternative scenarios, here's mine for 
the 
> letter:
> 
> Harry goes into Sirius's room, sees all the stuff on the walls.  
Sees a 
> box in the corner with some old magazines in it, box labeled 
Property 
> of S. Black - Return to Next of Kin - signed somehow to indicate 
Aurors 
> (Crouch's signature?) or Azkaban (official stamp?).  
snip
> Ceridwen.

Potioncat:
I've read as much of this thread as I can find. It seems to me the 
question is, "Why is the letter in 12 GP?" But the other question 
should be, "How did Snape know to look for it?" Then I realized, 
Snape had already seen the letter, and so did we. It's mentioned in 
OoP. Here's the [canon]. 

[We know that Sirius had his own place.] He was a Black, and an Order 
member, so it's reasonable to think the house would be protected by 
curses, jinxes, hexes and a large barking dog. [That horrible 
Halloween comes, Sirius loses control and ends up in Azkaban.] The 
house is left behind with all the magical protection--minus the dog--
safe from intruders.

OoP: [Sirius is locked up in 12 GP,] and begins to think about all 
the stuff in storage at his old place. He slowly starts to retrieve 
the contents. In bits and pieces, perhaps one boxfull at a time, he 
starts to sort through it all. And so we find him in January, going 
through some old letters. [To his surprise Snape arrives to talk to 
Harry.]

Sirius goes to confront Snape, not even thinking of the letter in his 
hand. Snape's eyes dart to the parchment, and there is the barest 
flicker of recognition. He knows the handwriting. Sirius picks up on 
it at once. "Going through some old letters from Lily. She wrote all 
the time. We were great friends, you know. Sent lots of 
photographs. " He drops [the letter on the table and the two of them 
glare.  Enter Harry.]

HBP: [June. Snape has had a horrible year. He can barely remember why 
he's doing it all. And now Dumbledore is dead. Snape has no one to 
encourage him or to keep him inspired.] His memory of Lily has been 
the driving force, but now he needs more. And he knows where to find 
it. According to Black there are photographs and letters. All he 
needs is one


DH: And you know the rest.

Well? (Everything in [] is canon.)