[the_old_crowd] Re: OoP: Confused and bemused - some questions about Snape's Worst Memory

[Catherine Coleman]

In message <bdcluk+2kde at ...>, pippin_999 <foxmoth at ...> 
writes
>--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, Catherine Coleman
><catherine at c...> wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Some spoiler space just in case anyone hasn't finished the
>book yet (and
>> as an aside - is there anyone who hasn't finished?  How long
>are we
>> planning to keep the spoiler space up?)
>>
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>> I now have more questions about how the Pensieve works -
>and really,  with recorded memories in general.   In the three
>examples we have,  (Riddle's diary, Dumbledore's pensieve
>trials, and Snape's "worst  memory")  there is one thing that
>seems inconsistent with how a memory  should work.  There is
>definitely a sense that whoever is accessing the  memory can
>move outside the ambit of the person who is recalling the
>> events.  <<
>
>I think the answer is in Dumbledore's statement to Harry, "It
>becomes easier to spot patterns and links, you understand,
>when they are in this form" I think those patterns and links then
>can become incorporated into the memory itself, as can happen
>in real life.  So though Snape couldn't originally have seen
>James doodling L.E. on that particular day, he doubtless saw it
>some other time and incorporated it into his memory of the
>event.
>
>I like this idea, because it would mean that, unless you are very
>careful,  your pensieve memories will become less and less
>accurate the more you use it. Every magical device should have
>a drawback, IMO.

But that means that if your theory is correct, that we *can't* trust the 
veracity of Snape's memory at all.  He saw James doodling LE (and how 
come Harry didn't understand that?) at some point, so he ties it in with 
this memory.  He knew that Lupin was a werewolf - a year later - but 
tied that in with this memory as well.  So how do we know that the whole 
nasty interchange between him, the Marauders and Lily wasn't a mish mash 
of different memories as well?  His memory could be selective - in that 
he had experienced something of that nature from James et al, but he 
could have omitted the fact that he provoked it.  Farfetched, and I'm 
grasping at straws, because even if they were all really arrogant, I 
can't bear to think of them being as thoughtless and as cruel.

Oh, and btw, Penny - I agree with you on the shipping stuff - it's 
definitely her most subtle to date - and I'm also wondering why, when 
talking to Harry about Cho, Hermione is always talking "briskly" or 
"brightly". Sounds to me as though she's trying to keep her feelings to 
herself.

And as for the death that must not be mentioned - on my reread I have 
just got to the part when they are about to depart for the Ministry on 
the back of the thestrals, and it's all I can do to force myself to read 
on.  I never thought I'd hear myself yelling, "Don't go to the Ministry, 
go to SNAPE! Yes, SNAPE, you fools!"  Bah.

Catherine, who would love Pippin to be right about Snape being a vampire 
- the jury's still out, folks.