pauraque_bk | PoA 22 (Reply)

First: Big thanks to everyone who commented on "I will not shun you" and "Daddy Snaip". I try to individually acknowledge everyone who sends feedback (even on silly stuff), but I haven't had much time on my hands lately. I absolutely do appreciate it, though! ♥

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Also a victim of real-life timesuck was the Chapter 21 discussion, which I barely participated in, but did read. There's a lot in there that pertains to Chapter 22, so you might want to take a look if you haven't already done so.

Highlights:

-Does Snape really care about the Order of Merlin?

-Did Dumbledore patch things up with Snape off-camera?

-Thematic purposes of the Time Turner (I may have been a bit hasty in saying that there aren't any)

PoA 22: Owl Post Again

'HE DIDN'T DISAPPARATE!' Snape roared, now very close at hand. 'YOU CAN'T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE! THIS -- HAS -- SOMETHING -- TO -- DO -- WITH -- POTTER!'
[...]
'THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT!' Snape howled, pointing at Harry and Hermione. His face was twisted, spit was flying from his mouth. (306)

Yipes. This is just some of the hysterical bellowing Snape does in this scene, in front of Fudge and others. Pretty well confirms that it wasn't the Order of Merlin Snape cared about, just Sirius.

'I was worried this mornin', mind ... thought [Buckbeak] mighta met Professor Lupin in the grounds, but Lupin says he never ate anythin' las' night ...' (308)

I wonder if Remus would really remember it if he had. Though I guess he does retain memories of what he does as a wolf, since he remembers going about with the Animagi.

'[...]Professor Dumbledore managed to convince Fudge that I was trying to save your lives.' [Lupin] sighed. 'That was the final straw for Severus. I think the loss of the Order of Merlin hit him hard. So he -- er -- accidentally let slip that I am a werewolf this morning at breakfast.'
'You're not leaving just because of that!' said Harry.
Lupin smiled wryly.
'This time tomorrow, the owls will start arriving from parents -- they will not want a werewolf teaching their children, Harry. And after last night, I see their point. I could have bitten any of you ... that must never happen again.' (309)

If Remus really thinks Snape was most concerned about the award, I'd call that more evidence that he really doesn't understand anything about the man.

Lupin's resignation has been discussed several times during the re-read. I don't think Dumbledore asked him to resign, but I doubt he would have let him stay -- it reads to me like he wanted to spare Remus the indignity of being forced out, and Remus took that chance.

I think the fact that Snape outed Lupin is indicative that he and Dumbledore are still on the outs at this point. I doubt Snape would have directly disobeyed his wishes otherwise. This is the first time Snape does so... the second is stopping the Occlumency lessons in OotP.

'From what the Headmaster told me this morning, you saved a lot of lives last night, Harry[...]' (309)

Well... three. Which is a lot for one kid, I suppose.

'Sirius told me all about how they became Animagi last night,' said Dumbledore, smiling. 'An extraordinary achievement -- not least, keeping it quiet from me. And then I remembered the most unusual form your Patronus took, when it charged Mr Malfoy down[...]' (312)

For me, this answers the question of whether Dumbledore knew they were Animagi in advance -- I don't think he did. He's capable of obscuring the truth, but it seems odd that he would go so far as to say that he only made the Patronus-Prongs connection after talking to Sirius, if he really knew about Prongs at the time.

Wonder what they'll give us next year [for a Defence teacher]?' said Seamus Finnigan gloomily.
'Maybe a vampire,' suggested Dean Thomas hopefully. (313)

Could be a hint that Snape will eventually take the DADA position, as I believe will be the case. Yes, I know he's not a vampire, but the imagery is there.

Crookshanks took the order to the Owl Office for me. I used your name but told them to take the gold from Gringotts vault number seven hundred and eleven -- my own. (315)

This gave me quite a start; in OotP (UK first edition), Sirius dies on page 711. It must be a coincidence, but still... weirdness.

Also, this is not a very plausible explanation. Can I just send a cat to Gringotts and take money out of any account I want?

I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as it's my fault he no longer has a rat. (316)

A hint of the more put-together Sirius of GoF. He's gained enough perspective that he can make a slight joke about the Peter situation. Also, he doesn't make any attempt (that we know of) to go after Peter now that he's free. Though he eventually deteriorates again once he's stuck in his old house, he has gotten something of a grip on himself by this time.

Previous re-read posts are here.

I'm going to do one more wrap-up post, and then that's it!

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