[HPforGrownups] Re: The Mysterious Source

Christine Maupin keywestdaze at yahoo.com
Fri Aug 3 12:49:11 UTC 2007


No: HPFGUIDX 174371

Steve wrote:
 > Voldemort: "Good. Very good. And this information
 > comes--"
 > "-- from the source we discussed," said Snape.
  
> Snape revealed the /actual/ date of Harry leaving
> the Dursleys. The source was Dumbledore's Portrait.
 > Did Snape really discuss Dumbledore's portrait with
 > Voldemort?
 >
 > Who do you suppose was the mysterious 'source' they
> discussed?
 > 
 > Miles:
 > Mundungus. AFAIR, we learnt in the Prince's Tale about
 > Mundungus being Snape's contact person in the order. 
 > Plus, the Seven Harrys is a proposal made by Mundungus
 > under the influence of Snape's Imperius.
 
 
 bboyminn:
 >Yes, I /suppose/ it could be Mundungus, but would 
 >Voldemort really consider Mundungus a credible source;
 >a skiving unreliable sneak thief?
 
>I know later in Snape's memories, we see Snape and
 >Mundungus together and Snape is implanting the 
 >idea of 6 decoys. But still there is the credibility
 >issue of information flowing in the opposite direction,
 >from Dung to Snape. 
 
 >Yaxley's information comes from Dawlish in the Auror's
 >office, and Snape's information comes from Mundungus,
 >which has the greater credibility? 
 
 >It just seems from a credibilty stand point, in 
 >Voldemort's eyes it would need to be some one better
 >than Dung. Dung is not exactly loved or trusted by
 >the Order at that point.
 
>Still uncertain.

I have to agree with  bboyminn, esp. the still uncertain part.  This might one of the those things we'll never truly know unless JKR tells us.  (I haven't read the Bloomsbury webchat  transcript yet.  Did no one ask?  I'm surprised...)

Agreeing that Dung is a far from credible (through easy to manipulate) source, I spent a lot of time assuming it was Dumbledore's portrait.  And, there is no reason for Voldemort to doubt that source  -- the portraits serve the headmaster after all.  Remember the other portraits were up in arms because N. Black hesitated to do Dumbledore's bidding back in OOTP.  I get the impression that their service to the headmaster is honor bound regardless of personal feelings.  So, even if Dumbledore's portrait didn't want to do Snape's bidding, he would be honor bound to do so.  But, then I ran into another problem.  Snape's confirmation as headmaster doesn't occur until after the event.  So, my puzzlement isn't that Dumbledore's portrait could not be the source, but could it have the opportunity to be the source.  So, the questions for me become:

Did Snape have access to Dumbledore's portrait prior to becoming headmaster?   (The Ministry hadn't fallen by this time so Snape is still a wanted man so to speak, so he can't be just strolling through the castle.)  And, did Dumbledore's portrait have access to the Order and therefore means to know their plans?  (Since he has Snape use Dung to suggest the decoys, I'm inclined to think Dumbledore's portrait did not access to the Order.  Otherwise, he could made the suggestion himself.)

Another response to this thread, but separate from the one quoted above, suggested Lupin, citing that he was a spy among the werewolves in HBP and I think tried to suggest that Voldemort therefore would consider him disloyal to the Order.  I had a very different take on Lupin's duties in HBP.  I think he was sent as an ambassador of sorts among the werewolves in an effort to keep them from joining Voldemort, much like Hagrid was sent among the giants.  So, I totally disagree that Lupin could be the source.  I think both sides consider him loyal to the Order and given the chance he would try to kill Snape.

So, I'm unfortunately inclined to believe that once again our dear Hagrid spilled the beans over a few pints at the pub -- it worked for Quirrell in book 1.  And, Snape, being a potions master, could make himself some polyjuice.  I imagine he could have found a few of Moody's, or Lupin's, or Kingsley's, or Tonks's, etc. hairs at Grimmauld Place.  In fact he could have impersonated anyone, even a stranger; the only information he needed was a date.  Mix together Hagrid's naivety, a few pints, and Snape's skill at legilimens and information can be discovered.  And, I think JKR raising the possibly in the book helps point us in that direction.

Just a thought... however, I can accept this mystery if we never solve it...

Christy
       




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