Snape, Lily & the Potions textbook

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 164845

> Cassy:
<SNIP>
> > But if Harry has ever really underestimated someone, it is his
> mother, IMHO. <snip>
> 
> Carol:
<SNIP>
> Very true. I think, for example, that Lily (whose first wand was "a
> nice wand for Charm work") must have placed the Fidelius Charm on
> Peter, and she may have been an Unspeakable, as some posters have
> suggested. But to give her credit for Snape's brilliance in Potions
> after five books demonstrating his brilliance in the subject (he 
takes
> only the very best in his NEWT Potions class, but takes a more
> democratic approach to DADA, which is not an elite subject but a
> necessary self-defense course for all students) is to take away all
> the beautiful irony of Harry's learning Potions from Snape without
> knowing he's Snape and identifying with the young Severus without
> knowing who he was. 
> 
> If you want to believe in a Snape/Lily connection, fine. But let's 
not
> give Lily credit for the brilliance Snape has demonstrated as 
Potions
> Master from "The Potions Master" chapter onward.
> 
> Carol, who doesn't think that Lily made that snarky comment about
> stuffing Bezoars down "his" throat any more than she invented 
Sectumsempra
>


Alla:

Heee, you see Ceridwen, I knew there would be a right place to post 
what I was telling you yesterday.

So, yeah, jumping in. I am not giving Lily Snape's brilliance in 
Potions - I am giving her her **own** brilliance in Potions and do 
not believe that it is taking from Snape's brilliance in Potions at 
all. Can't they be both talented? Or does Snape holds the title of 
the **only** genuis in Potions in Hogwarts? I personally do not 
think so, but I can be wrong of course.

Slughorn praise of her is enough for me to believe that Lily was 
very talented at least, whether the notes in the book are hers or 
not.

Now, about that taking away the irony that Harry identified with 
young Snape, if Lily wrote those.

Absolutely, it will take away the irony, but who says that JKR is 
not going for that?

It all depends on what one is banking would be the crucial emotional 
connection that would help Harry to win the final battle.

If one thinks that the crucial connection would be Harry/Snape, then 
sure notes in the book have to be Snape's to make sure that Harry 
had at least one point when he sympathised with young Snape, 
etc,etc,etc.

But if one hopes ( as I sure do) that crucial connection would not 
be Harry/Snape, but Harry/Lily, that Snape is a plot device big one, 
but plot device nevertheless, designed to teach Harry what kind of 
person he should not be, the forgiveness, etc. Then I do not see why 
as Cassie mentioned earlier notes supposedly belonging to Snape 
cannot be one giant red herring and the book will really tell Harry 
more about Lily, then of Snape.

Alla, thinks that Lily making those notes would have a layer of new 
and delightful irony.