hbp spoiler warning

[the freak]

Highlight the following white text to read my theory on a possible mistake in the book. ONLY IF YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK.

BEGIN SPOILER >...do you think this is a mistake? when harry is wondering if the half-blood prince who had owned his second hand copy of "advanced potion making" had actually been his dad, he ruled this possibility out because his dad hadn't been at school 50 years ago. but later when we find out who the prince really was, well, he wasn't at school 50 years ago either, since he was at hogwarts the same time as james potter! am i horribly mistaken? i sure hope i am...> END OF SPOILER

[the freak]

sh*t! it was supposed to turn out white! sorry...

[Morrisonker]

not really a spoiler, don't worry :)  That hadn't occured to me, I'll have to read it again to see if it makes anymore sense.  Check out MuggleNet.com and see if it's mentioned there, although it may be too early for goofs and mistakes to be in there

[lissyl78]

It said that the book was issued fifty years ago (didn't it?) and it also mentioned Snape's mother so maybe one of those explains it somehow?

A good point though. I'll have to look into it too! x

[spudqueen]

I'll have to read it again to be sure but I go with lissy 178, the book will probably have belonged to his mother.

[shimmer]

I had this argument with my brother at 11.45 on saturday nite after we both finished the book. I came to the same conclusion as you-reading between the lines the book belonged to Snape's mother, and was then passed down to him. Harry was a bit rash in using the age of the book to rule out chances of it belonging to his dad though.

Anyway, what did everyone think? Definitely the best book yet, but they're moving further away from children's stories with each book-hbp is darker and requires more reading between the lines than ever! Still the best book ever though!

[Xollob]

The first mistakes were posted on the day of release. Have a look at the Wikipedia page. This one isn't listed, and I think the "Snape's mother theory" is plausible.

[EssJay1]

I don't remember the potions book being dated; they were just searching for likely candidates, who fitted the Prince connection.

[RoseB]

I believe the book was bought by Snape's mother, given to Snape.

[Random_101]

i also thought about this, and also came to the conclusion that Snape's mum must have passed it down to him. Who thinks Snape is good, and who thinks he's evil?

[RoseB]

I somewhat think that he is evil, but I could see Rowling making him good again. I think she could go with the reason Dumbledore trusted him so much was because they had an Unbreakable vow themselves, or that Dumbledore gave Snape those orders. But either way, if he's good or bad, I think he'll die in the end.

[nfn]

I think he'll have been impervioused by either Bellatrix or Narcissa just prior to the Unbreakable Vow. Nice twist eh?

[nfn]

I've got a funny feeling he'll save Harry's life in the end, Ron and Hermione will play a huge part too. H, R and M will show the kind of love to Voldermort that he last encountered with James and Lily and Snape will justify Dumbledore's trust.

Not that I've given it a second thought or anything :-)

[nfn]

I meant Harry, Ron and Hermione as in H,R & H, who's HRM? I'm confusing myself now!

[Raguel]

Harry and Ron both got a second hand book, and Ron's was completely free of sidenotes..........therefore, Snape could have gotten it second hand as well, years after it was published and also sidenote free before he wrote his notes in...........

[snapeevil!!!]

OMG, you're smart! that is a totally great point....