I was thinking when I read the book for the third time...Did Slughorn know that Harry had Snapes book, when he gave it to him at the beginning of the year? It seems strange doesn't it? First of all, why did Snape leave his book there, and secondly, why did Harry of all people get it... Odd coincidence, don't you think? And what if Slughorn knew who the hbp was...

I have actually considered this, especially after a second reading. Slughorn spent a few moments fumbling about in that cupboard, after all. Plus I don't see why Snape would have left something that must have meant a lot to him lying around for just anyone to pick up.

So personally, because I believe Snape to be on Dumbledore's side, I think that the book was left there deliberately. I think Dumbledore may have told Snape his whole plan (except, initially, for the killing part at the end of it ) and that it was important for Harry to have the very best of tuition in both Potions and DADA that year and slipping Harry the book to help him in Potions certainly allowed him to have the best of both worlds - I don't think that anyone could doubt that Snape is a very gifted wizard, no matter whether you believe him to be innocent or not.

I don't think Snape tried very hard to get that book back from him - and he must have known about it after Sectumsempra. The punishment Harry had for using it was also rather pointless and trivial.

So, all things considered, I think Snape always knew Harry had that book - I think Dumbledore probably asked Slughorn to make sure Harry got it.

The whole careers advice stuff in OotP, the drama over the Potions OWLS and Harry's dashed hopes of becoming an auror...I think they were all more than coincidence. Jo was always leading us to believe that Harry would not be taking potions at NEWT level - it was all orchestrated so that his getting the book would look like a purely serendipitous event - which I don't think it was.

So yes, I think Slughorn did know all about it.

And I agree with Dana

Snape had many possibilities to check Harry's Potions book. He could, for example, say: "Accio Harry Potter's Potions book" instead of ordering him to go for it, giving Harry a chance to swap books. I suppose that Slughorn knew about this, they must have known that Harry didn't expect that he would be able to learn Potions and that he wouldn't buy the book.

Yes...yanno, I never really suspected this. Slughorn seems like a skilled wizard but his personality doesn't make him seem like the kind of person who would do that. As so Severus, he definately knew about the book all along. If Harry had inheirited Lily's genes, why would he all of a sudden be amazing ad potions?

Then, there's the fact that Harry aleady knows about Severus being an Occlumens and Legilimens. So, it wouldn't've been very difficult for Severus to simply say: "Potter! You're lying! I can read your mind, remember?" And Harry tried to close his minid but couldn't, so why did he try to hide the book if Severus OBVIOUSLY used Legilimency against Harry?

Maybe he wasn't sure if Snape's Legilimency worked. It was said something like that the image of this book was sweeping in front of his mind (I don't have an exact quote at the moment). So it looks for me as if Harry was trying to save this book by all means. Snape told him to bring it, knowing that he may change the books. Snape's not stupid, Roonil Wazlib looks similar to Ronald Weasley

That's an excellent question, and one I had never really given consideration to - thinking about it, I reckon you all have a point.

And Scully's right about Snape's punishment for using Sectumsempra - it was a bit of a let off. I get the impression that Snape actually felt a little responsible here...

He definitely felt responsible... look at the pronoun: " I f you take dittany immediately, we can avoid even that...". He said: we, not "you", what in my opinion (but I wasn't the one who noticed it first) is how he showed he was responsible for that too. And that detention was a "light" thing compared to that Snape might have asked about throwing harry out of the school- which is he wanted- as he said in the chapter 2 of the HBP - and he lied.

I also think that the book was left ther on purpose. Maybe Dumbeldore wanted Harry to learn all of the speels/potions. Maybe it is important for him to know some dark magic, including Secumsempra.

Dana,

I think you hit the nail right on the head, or something. Why would Snape leave his potions book with that information about spells and a possibilty that leads him to be the HBP. I don't think he would willingly leave that book lying around.

Honestly, I think that book was planted there ans given to Harry so he could learn about all the potions and defensive spells in that book.


bubotuber pus,

I think slughorn definitely made sure Harry got that specific book. I'm pretty sure Slughorn is on our side I'm debating over this because why would he be so reluctant to give Harry his memory. I mean yea he was probably ashamed but he would have already known DD had a good reason for wanting the memory of Voldemort and the Horcruxes. I was also wondering why DD made Harry get the memory? Does anyone have an idea?

was the book planned?..as we know from jk rowling, nothing is coincidental...it is obvious that snape knew that somethingelse was at play, harry's use of snape magic on draco is enough prove...but as we know, snape is a by-the-rule person and doesnot seemingly act without proof except with the prophecy

I'm reading HBP for like the third time or something and I was thinking the same thing. For some reason I was under the impression that Harry got the book out of the cupboard himself, but then to find it was Slughorn...well that does seem kind of set up doesn't it.

As for Snape, it does seem odd he didn't just take it when he could instead of telling Potter to go get it. Surely he's not that dumb. But then perhaps JKR let it be that way for a reason. Didn't Harry try to use one of the spells Snape had made up at the end of HBP? When he was chasing him? Perhaps if Snape had taken the book Harry wouldn't have seen the spell, assuming of course Snape asked for it before Harry decided to try the spells out.

I didn't even suspect that it might have all been planned but after reading this thread, I think that it could be a possiblity. The only evidence against this is Slughorn doesn't seem to know why Harry is so good at potions.

Woah. I was pretty much convinced before you said that.

Well, I'm not really sure if SLughorn was in on the plan coz if he was, like time turner said, Slughorn wouldn't be so surprised by Harry's sudden talent in Potions.

But I'm pretty sure that Snape knew Harry had his Potions book. Maybe when he heard about Harry being so good at potions, he started having suspicions. Then when Harry used the sectumsempra spell on Draco, his suspicions was confirmed. He was so good in Legilimency and no doubt, he read Harry's mind instantly.

So if Snape did know Harry had his book and didn't get it back, then, that's more proof that Snape was and still is on the good side,





LET'S ALL PUT OUR TRUST AND SUPPORT IN MY SNIVELLUS!!!

I've toyed around with this idea for a while, and I believe that the book was planted. I tend to think that Slughorn was not in on the plan, though.

DD knew that Snape was not going to be teaching potions because Slughorn was taking back his own post. DD did not divulge this piece of info to Harry. When Harry brought up the subject of potions in the broom cupboard, DD could have told him that Snape wouldn't be teaching potions and Slughorn would allow Harry to continue on if he received a certain level in O.W.L. However, DD did not point this out. This makes me think that DD wanted Harry to come to Hogwarts without a new potions book. I think DD had Snape plant the book in the hopes that Slughorn would give it to Harry on the first day of class. Of course, if Slughorn was not in on the plan, they were taking a chance that someone else would have gotten the book.

I think DD realized there were certain things in the book that would help Harry along. One of them being the excellent hints to brew excellent potions. Harry needed to soften Slughorn up a little so he would compare Harry to his mother. It was by Harry using his mother's memory against Slughorn that finally won him the memory. Not to mention, it was the prince's potions book that won Harry the FF. If he hadn't of won it, he probably would not have been able to figure out how to get the memory in the first place.

DD has a history of helping Harry from a distance. Remember in SS/PS when Harry made the comment about DD knowing that they were eventually going to go after the stone, but instead of stopping them, he allowed them to do what they needed to do and gave them what help he could along the way without actually becoming involved. For example, the cloak "Use it wisely" at x-mas and "Just in case" after Norbert. And then Harry finding the mirror and given the opportunity of figuring out how it works. I think the potions book is just another aid planted by DD.

I wonder if it has anything to do with Slughorn being lucky...as in, those two lucky days he talked about (once when he was 24 and once when he was 57). I already made a topic on this but it should go here too.

Maybe he was hired when he was 24 but wasn't really that good at potions in the first place. He has accepts more students into his NEWT level classes than Snape does, maybe he feels they should as much of a chance that he had...or perhaps he feels like he should give people a similar chance since he knows he got lucky one day to be able to teach potions at Hogwarts for a few decades.

Maybe he was a pretty bad teacher that one day he got a book from a really good student at potions (Eileen Prince) who had scribbled some notes into the book (at this point he's 57, had taken the luck potion, and received the book to help him keep his job). He bases all his knowledge on this and later, a student needs a book who's parents didn't have enough money and Slughorn gives it up after basically memorizing it for many years, and this person is ironically the son of the real owner of the potions book (Snape). Perhaps he adds more notes or perhaps there are enough to go on. Remember, didn't Hermione say that the writing looked feminine? Maybe on winter break he brings his book home to continue studying (since he apparently loves potions) and his mother says that was her book. Feeling entitled to it, he writes "Property of the Half-Blood Prince".

Maybe Snape was forced to give it back to Slughorn and he put it in a cupboard and forgot about it, only to remember in this past book that it was there and looked for it to give to Harry. But does that explain how he seemed surprised about how Harry was real good at potions? No. Maybe he received many books at the end of that year when he was 57 and over the years gave them away to needy students until the very last one was left...which wound up in Harry's hands. After all these years, Snape would have been surprised that Harry got the book too...but like Slughorn, he couldn't divulge the information to Dumbledore or anyone else for fear of losing a job that may have had some sort of foundation with the book.

All speculation, unfortunately.