explanation of choice in Phoenix Tears

[grrangerous]

Comments

Severus' knowledge

[oryx_leucoryx]

There is one big difference between Horace Slughorn and Severus Snape: age. We know from canon that Dumbledore managed to ban the subject of Horcruxes even before he became headmaster - Horace tells Tom the books aren't even in the restricted section (but they were there previously). And do you think Voldemort would want anyone else learning about them? He plans on living forever, any other immortal would be his competitor. So terri_testing suggested both Dumbledore and Voldemort made an effort to buy, confiscate or destroy any book about Horcruxes they could access in Britain - from Hogwarts, Ministry sources, book shops and private libraries. Such that for example the relevant volumes from the Lestrange family library ended up in Voldemort's collection. However he had no access to the Black family's library because it was under control of the elder Blacks (there would have been magical protection against removing such a book without permission of the head of the family). So Regulus could find the information at home. But if the Princes were not into Dark Arts (or not that much) then Severus couldn't.

So yes, it is possible that until his death Severus had never learned of the concept of Horcruxes.

Re: Severus' knowledge

[grrangerous]

If you're committed to believing that Severus didn't know, then nothing will convince you. I guess I'm not easily convinced that such knowledge could be easily hidden. Sure, Snape is younger than Slughorn, and AD had no-doubt removed the relevant books from the Hogwarts library, but still, the Princes (or Eileen at least) were into the Dark Arts--for Snape is depicted as up to his eyeballs in it from before he even arrived at school. By the time the books begin, he's depicted as an expert at the Dark Arts--such that even AD asks for his help with Dark objects (such as the cursed necklace in 6th year, or his own health). Even if you want to imagine that the *only* book AD hasn't confiscated is in the Black library, then it's enough to realise that the grown up Snape had access to the library once Sirius came back on the scene. Given his expertise, and AD's readiness to turn to it, I can imagine that if books were removed from the Black library, AD might have asked Snape to be the one to do it. I find it unconvincing that Snape didn't know anything about Horcruxes, but hey, it's all up to our own interpretations, I certainly don't want to belabour the point and argue about it endlessly. :)

Thanks for checking this out, and presumably for having read the story. :)

Re: Severus' knowledge

[oryx_leucoryx]

There is no evidence whatsoever that the Princes were into Dark Arts. All we know is that 11 year old Severus knew a few curses, and all one needs for that is a book like the one Harry saw during his first trip to Diagon Alley. Even after the werewolf incident Lily only blames him of being friends with Mulciber who supposedly used dark magic on Mary McDonald (but we have no information to judge), not that he was practicing Dark Arts himself. This means that if Sirius was right about Severus being 'famous' for being into Dark Arts this notoriety only came to be in 5th year (probably when he cast his one known Dark spell in public - when he used Sectumsempra on James). In fact Sirius does not say when Severus became known for Dark Arts, only that as a first year he knew more curses than most seventh years. Since most seventh years only know a handful of curses that isn't saying much.

Yes, the Black family library was available to him in theory. While Sirius lived Severus didn't stay there more than he had to for his reports and shortly after Sirius' death Severus became the most busy wizard in Britain. Probably his best chance to learn about Horcruxes was during the summer between OOTP and HBP. (If Dumbledore found the book he would either remove it himself if he could; he may have needed Sirius' intervention for wards keyed to Blacks. Dumbledore is worse than Voldemort in how much he keeps things to himself.)

Re: Severus' knowledge

[oryx_leucoryx]

Adding to my previous reply: Until he was cursed by the ring Dumbledore intended to take care of the Horcruxes himself - except Harry who was being left to Voldemort and perhaps Nagini (it isn't clear how he was going to gain access to her). So there was no need to involve anyone else until then. Once he knew he wouldn't be able to complete the task he left it to Harry because his blood connection to Voldemort ensured that he couldn't be killed as long as Voldemort retained his current body. I don't know why Dumbledore didn't get around to tell Harry what means existed to destroy Horcruxes (it shouldn't have added more than 10 minutes to the Horcrux lesson) but once he realized what was missing all he had to do was add sending the books to Severus' sword delivery mission. Hermione however made that part unnecessary.

For all we know, one of the books in Hermione's collection was the Black family's book.

Re: Severus' knowledge

[grrangerous]

I'm still not convinced. You're convinced that your interpretation is rooted in canon, but it requires the extrapolation of a back story that is even more complicated than anything I have suggested. I just don't find it conceivable that anyone--powerful wizard or not--could control the dispersal of that kind of knowledge; particularly not when anyone as old or older than Slughorn would have been able to pass the information on through word of mouth. I don't think there's any benefit to be had from belabouring the point; we should agree to disagree.