Why did Snape remove *that* memory? Was:Takin

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 164175

> Magpie:
> But if Snape just needs Harry to peek in the Pensieve why put 
> something so humiliating about himself in it? This is Snape we're 
> talking about--would he really ever want Harry to see him in his 
> grey underwear? Why not stick any memory in there and just say that 
> Harry looked in the Pensieve and that's it?
> 
> It just seems like a lot of machinations that replace a scene that 
> brings together important emotional stuff in the story that's 
> already been important in the past: Snape hates James, Snape hates 
> Harry, Dumbledore thinks this "wound" of Snape can't be healed, 
> Snape hates James for using Snape's spells against him, Snape can't 
> stand looking weak. If it's all just a trick on Snape's part--his 
> own version of the Midnight Duel--the scene's not important 
> emotionally at all--except for the alleged destruction of Harry's 
> previously high view of his father (which isn't destroyed at all, 
of 
> course). 

Alla:

First and foremost let me say that I am not married to the idea of it 
being a set up, definitely not. Because too often within the heated 
discussion I find myself straying my argument from the POV I held to 
answer exaggerated point and then my point gets exaggerated in turn, 
etc ( not with you, but it certainly happened to me). So, please keep 
in mind that the most I can say is that I just find it to be one of 
the possibilities, that's all.

Because you see I look at OOP and reread it now with much more 
sinister Snape in mind than you do and I would not past **any** dirty 
trick behind him.

Certainly within the set up of DD!M Snape it could be the emotional 
scene needed to introduce Snape's wounds that never healed, James and 
Sirius as bullies, etc, etc.

If one thinks about set up of Evil Snape or OFH!Snape or LID!Snape, 
this scene can still be read as that, but it can also be read as 
Snape for example getting all that he needed from Harry's mind for 
Voldemort, exposing him enough, etc and figuring that he had enough 
and those occlumency lessons must be stopped at all costs.

It smells set up to me for example when Snape takes his memories of 
the pensieve directly ** in front** of Harry and leaves the pensieve 
right there.

I mean, really if Snape did not want Harry to see it and know about 
it, was it so difficult to do it **before** Harry comes and I do not 
know, leave pensieve hidden?

As to why Snape leaves this memory in, if this is a set up. No clue, 
but if we are saying that some things are needed for the plot, why 
not this one as well?

I mean JKR would kill two birds, do the set up and shows off their 
past as well.

Another possibility is that Snape wanted Harry to see that memory to 
have more grounds to complain to Dumbledore and paint himself as 
victim of Potter's son who could not contain his curiosity and 
awakened his wounds that never healed.

And what do you know, DD says that some wounds never healed. :)

> > Alla:
> >
> > See above, seems like rather easy one to me. Of course Snape is 
> > banking, but I would think that he would have waited few nights 
> and if 
> > nothing would have come out would made Malfoy to call Snape out 
> for 
> > something fictitious.
> 
> Magpie:
> But of course Malfoy didn't call him out for something fictitious 
so 
> it's like proving a negative. There's no sign in canon that Snape 
> put this memory there hoping Harry would see it. We just have to 
> assume that he *would* have brought Malfoy in on it (inviting 
Malfoy 
> into lessons Snape was keeping quiet from him) if it hadn't worked. 
> We'll just never know because he didn't have to do that.

Alla:

Um,yes, of course. I thought I stated clearly that I was only 
speculating. The basis for that speculation of the sort is that even 
in that set up when Snape gets called for real trouble, Malfoy is the 
one who calls on him, basically somebody who would do whatever Snape 
orders him.

No support in canon per se, but just possibility to arise my 
suspicion.

JMO,

Alla