Irma Pince = Severus Snape

[Deborah Krupp]

No: HPFGUIDX 166324

I am Lord Voldemort. I am Prince. I really do think that Snape is a metamorphagus, and that he uses this ability, combined with a time-turner, to lead a double/triple life.

Snape mimics Lord Voldemort when he names his alter-ego, but figures his common name with the letters of his message. Snape claims the name Prince earlier, and again in this disguise. We don't know enough about Eileen Prince to have any idea if she may have been a Death Eater and would have used a similar pattern, but when I read this, it is Snape marking himself as Voldemort's equal, or superiour. A prince outrank a lord, right? I don't see Eileen claiming this role, particularly this role as Voldemort's superiour, if she is hiding out in the library.  It is Snape's declaration and it is a quiet one, but there nonetheless.

The similarities between Snape and Irma have been pointed out numerous times by those building a case for Irma being Eileen. As appearance can be changed, I find the commonalities between their spoken words more telling. Snape taking Harry's library book back to the safety of the castle also fits.

The scene where Madame Pince finds Harry with his HBP potions book and she rails him for defiling the book, could be the cover-up for Snape being so angry Harry has his old potions book. Madame Pince couldn't very well say, how did you get Professor Snape's book? when the two are not chummy, right?

The idea that Snape has a time-turner, (he was there and then he was not there at the tower)fits. To follow Jo's pattern, introducing us to something fairly innocently, and then weaving it into the plot more dramatically and usually so we don't notice (polyjuice potion, animagus) someone should have a time-turner at least once more, and someone should be a metamorphagus at least once more.

Lupin suggesting what Neville's boggart wear to out Snape works here. Madame Pince attending Dumbledore's funeral, also fits. As does the relationship of Finch and Pince, and Finch and Snape. Finch is a mystery to me, but I think there's more to him.

What does this add to the plot? A time-turning Snape could well use a second body so he could be two places at once without having the confusion of seeing his past and future selves in the same place. If he can be someone else in one place than another, it simplifies things. I see many reasons why Snape may need to be in two places at once (a greater need than the one the ministry approved for Hermione) and suspect he has had a time-turner in his possession all along.
 
deborah_s_krupp