Harry the author

[Kenneth Clark]

No: HPFGUIDX 175451

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "rt11guru" <ken.fruit at ...> 
wrote:
>
> guru:
>  
> I would think that if Snape had been teaching his versions  of the
> recipes, that Harry would have recognized them when he saw the  
> notations in the book.
> 
> Melissa :
> 
> Not necessarily.  My handwriting at 43 years of age is vastly 
> different to what it was when I was in 17 and in high school.  So I
> can see  how Harry might not recognize the notations.
>  
> guru:
> Clarification: I was thinking more of content than of form.
> 
> Having spent a lot of time reading the book, Harry would have
> recognized that Snape taught them the modified versions of formulas,
> not the original versions from the book.
> 
> I know that this is an advanced class with an advanced text, but as
> with most textbooks, there would probably have been overlap with
> previously taught material.
>
Ken says:

My apologies but I haven't really been following this thread 
but . . . are we sure it is Snape who wrote the additions?  At one 
point we are told that the book is 50 years old, well before Harry's 
father and thus Snape's time.  The book must have been Snape's 
mother's book before it became his and thus it is likely that it was 
she who made the changes - hence the hidden humour in Hermione's 
suggestions that this "prince" is a girl and in Harry's wrong 
assumption that it 'just has to be a guy'.  If the new spells are in 
the same handwriting then it must have been she, not her son, who 
created the new spells as well, though he may have been the first to 
use them at Hogwarts and taken credit for them.

This of course does not in itself explain why he does not teach 
the "improved" versions but schools have recognised curricula which, 
in some cases, must be strictly adhered to - why not so at Hogwarts?  
Maybe, like scientific medical experiments, rigorous testing over a 
long period is required for all new potions (and spells) to ensure 
there are no unknown dangers which may not manifest themselves until 
much later, or which only effect a percentage of those taking them, 
rather like only some people being allergic to nuts.  Maybe an 
enhanced potion causes tentacles to sprout from the neck, but only 
after the fifth dose, or after 4 years or whatever.  Given the 
possible dangers I would think it likely that the Ministry keeps firm 
control over what is recognised as safe to be taught in such a 
potentially dangerous area of study.

inally and pedantically, I've no problems with bad spelling in posts, 
I'm a sinner myself, but not to know the difference between canon and 
cannon?  C'mon guys, the latter is a big gun.

Ken Clark