Snape finding Lily's letter

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 173977

> bboyminn:
> 
> Who says the Penseive scenes are in chronological 
> order? I suspect, and always have, that they were in
> random order, and just happen to occur in a particular
> sequence to suit the stories need, but still, none the
> less, in apparent random order.

zgirnius:
The vast majority of the memories ARE in chronological order. Just 
look at them, in the order in which they appear in the book:
1) Snape's first meeting with Lily.
2) A later, but before school, conversation with her.
3) Their trip on the Hogwarts Express.
4) An argument at school, Lily confirms they are still best friends.
5) SWM
6) Their breakup shortly after SWM.
7) Adult Snape's first meeting with Dunbledore, Potters are alive.
8) Potters are now dead.
9) scene from time of PS/SS (Quirrell)
10) scene from time of GoF (Yule Ball)
11) Ring curse (after OOtP, beginning of HBP)
12) Forest scene (HBP)
13) continued discussion after forest scene
14) discussion of 7 potters plan
15) giving of plan to Dung
16) George's ear
17) GP scene with photo
18) the sword

Note except for 17 (which Rowling in her chat places between 13 and 
14) all are in strict chronological order, as can be deduced from 
information given within each scene. 

> > CathyD:
> >
> > I still have a huge problem with the letter being in 
> > GP in the first place.  It just does not fit.  
> > 
> > CathyD
> > TrentonON
> 
> bboyminn:
> 
> What is it about the letter that you (and others)
> object to or don't understand? It was a letter written
> to Sirius a long time ago, and it was in Sirius's
> bedroom. Which part of that causes a problem? 

zgirnius:
It is a timeline issue. The letter is from a married Lily Potter to 
Sirius, and is found in 12 GP. Sirius moved out of his parents' home 
and into the Potters' at the age of 16, before Lily married. Upon his 
majority he received an inheritance and got his own place, never 
moving to 12 GP until after he escaped Azkaban.

So Lily wrote to him at his then place of residence, not 12 GP. How 
did the letter get there?

We can explain it in a number of ways, but it does require 
explanation, it is not the natural place for such a thing to be. I 
figure that after Sirius was sent away, the Ministry boxed up his 
stuff and gave it to Ma Black, who dumped the items in his old 
bedroom.