Maraurders/he exists

[Neri]

No: HPFGUIDX 169300


> Jared:
> So here we have Snape using Sectumsempra and missing.  Depending on
> your view of Snap's current character I can see this easily leading
> to the chapters title.
> 
> 
> If Snape is truly repentant then he could look on this incident as a
> time where he could very easily have killed James and regret what
> could have happened.
> 
> However, if Snape's hatred of James is really as deep as we see in the
> current novels then perhaps his worst memory is that in this instance,
> where he could have gotten rid of James himself, he missed.  Leaving
> aside the ramifications he would have received had he killed James it
> does seem like something he could regret.
> 

Neri:
There's also a third possibility I've mentioned before: that Snape
drawing James's blood at that moment was the reason he has acquired an
extremely potent magical Debt when James later saved his life.
According to this speculation, the life debt magic has some very
severe consequences if the debtor spills the blood of the wizard he
owes his life to. So this was "Snape's Worst Memory" because, if only
he had not lost his head at that moment and used Sectumsempra, he
wouldn't have been trapped in the dilemma that has shaped all his
future actions in the series.

Remember that Snape had originally put *three* memory strands in the
Pensieve, of which Harry randomly chose one. Presumably all three are
Snape's worst memories and they are all connected, or what would be
JKR's plot point in mentioning the other two? I think the second
memory was the Prank, when James had actually started the Debt by
saving Snape's life, and the third was telling Voldemort about the
prophecy, which made Snape responsible to James's death. The series of
these three actions has sealed Snape's bond to James and Harry.

There's also the point of Dumbledore having that gleam of something
like triumph in his eyes when he hears about Wormtail drawing Harry's
blood. 


Neri