The book that belongs to the HBP

[wynnleaf]

No: HPFGUIDX 168491

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Tandra" <tkjones9 at ...> wrote:
>
> Ok so I'm reading HBP for the 3rd or 4th time and why this just hit me
> I have no clue....but seriously how much older than Harry is Snape?
> Why is it the school is still using the same textbook one of the
> professors would of had in their day? LOL It can't be that much
> different in the Wizard world than the real world. A book that is what
> maybe at least 30 years old, still being used?! I just find that
> odd...no one else on this? :-)
> 
> TK
>
 wynnleaf
I don't think we know what potions text Snape was using.  Slughorn
obviously wanted this particular textbook.  Snape typically has the
instructions for potions written out on the board, so students are
probably getting the benefit of his modifications and improvements to
the texts.  

The use of the older text may be the result of bringing back an
elderly, retired teacher on the spur of the moment, who decides to use
the texts he's familiar with.  On the other hand, the Wizarding World
might typically continue to use very old methods and research.  It
would certainly fit in with a lot of the other older customs, laws,
and culture of the Wizarding World.  

wynnleaf