[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape's memory

[Janette]

No: HPFGUIDX 164527

On 2/2/07, justcarol67 <justcarol67 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> va32h wrote:
> > > From Snape's memories, as seen by Harry, it appears that Snape
> resembles his father, in terms of the hooked nose, at least. The
> mother in that memory is not described as having a hooked nose. I
> don't think her nose is described at all, actually. But it's the
> mention of the man's hooked nose that is supposed to be our clue that
> Snape is recalling his parents, isn't it?
> > >
> > montims:
> > I am not convinced that that is the case - I believe Jo is
> hoodwinking us - in very quick succession, we see the crying boy, the
> flyshooter, the unsuccessful rider, and we assume in each case that
> they are Snape, and that they are in chronological order.  Harry
> doesn't say whether or not he recognises any of the characters, only
> that they were not his memories.  We assume he identifies Snape.  It
> happens so quickly, then stops with "Enough!" and we don't go back to
> analyse the images.
> >
> > I believe that the shouting man was Snape.  We don't know who the
> > cowering woman or the crying boy are, or why they are
> cowering/crying. <snip>
>
> Carol:
> While I *do* think that the memories are Snape's and that Harry is
> right to assume that the crying child is Snape, I agree that the
> shouting man may not be Snape's father. Surely, he can't be Snape
> himself, whom Harry would recognize (he has no trouble recognizing
> Teen!Severus in the Pensieve later, and he sees adult!Snape every
> day).

montims:
OK - maybe I need to take the books out *again*!  I was under the
impression that while the memories are Snape's, the characters in the
memories were NOT identified - where does Harry actually acknowledge
that any of the persons were (or were not) Snape?  I may be wrong, but
I thought that was misdirection - the reader assumes they are Snape,
advancing in order of age,  but it is not specified, and I don't think
we know who Harry recognised...

If I am wrong, I apologise for labouring this point, but I do think it
is important - the memories flash by really quickly, and are then
driven out of his mind - is the way I remember it...