The Snitch's "flesh memory" (Was: CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: DH7)

[Lesley McKenna]

No: HPFGUIDX 179061

Carol:
But if a Snitch opens only for the first person who touched 
it, how did Dumbledore get it to open so that he could put 
the Resurrection Stone inside it (and then reenchant it not 
to open but to show the message, "I open at the close" at 
the touch of Harry's mouth/tongue and then open, again at 
the touch of Harry's mouth, at that specific moment)? 
<SNIP>
Maybe the Snitch's flesh memory normally reveals a message 
along the lines of "You caught me" rather than opening up? 
<SNIP>
Carol, wondering what Scrimgeour expected to happen when 
Harry touched the Snitch


Hi Carol. The snitch doesn't open for anyone as a result of 
the flesh memory. I imagine that some kind of spell is cast 
if there is a dispute over who caught the snitch and it will 
reveal who caught or touched the snitch first. Dumbledore 
used his prodigious magic to open the snitch, put the ring 
inside, seal it seamlessly again and then have the message 
appear when Harry touched the snitch to his lips.
   
The only thing I have a quibble with about the sudden revelation 
of the flesh memory is that in Philospher's Stone, when Wood is 
showing Harry the balls and explaining the rules of Quidditch to 
him, both Wood and Harry touched the snitch and nowhere does it 
say that either has gloves on. Also, I'm pretty sure Madam Hooch 
is pretty free and easy with the snitch.
   
So this is obviously something JK thought of for the last book; 
but hey, that's fine with me. We can't expect her to have had 
everything thought out from the moment she started writing the 
series. I love book 7.

wrappedinharry