Hermione stopped dead; Harry heard
it too. Somebody had moved close behind them among the dark bookshelves. They
waited, and a moment later the vulturelike countenance of Madam Pince appeared
around the corner, her sunken cheeks, her skin like parchment, and her long
hooked nose illuminated unflatteringly by the lamp she was carrying.1
With
the publication of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Snape's
subsequent flight from Hogwarts, there are many questions that have been raised
about the former Potions Master, including the following: how could Albus
Dumbledore possibly remain so steadfast is his defense of Severus Snape? How
could he be so sure of Snape's loyalty and go as far as to say he trusts him
"completely"?2 I would argue that Dumbledore had an ace in the hole, something
unknown to anyone else that made him comfortable in his belief that Snape
really was on his side, or at the very least, was no longer one of Lord
Voldemort's loyal Death Eaters. I think that the hidden clue we all are
searching for can be found in the Hogwarts library, in the person of Madam Irma
Pince, the school's librarian. It is my belief that Madam Pince is in fact
Snape's mother, Eileen Prince.
The Evidence
The
most common support of this theory is the anagram: Irma Pince = I'm a Prince.
It seems so absurdly simple that it is often immediately discounted as a red
herring or a rather bad copy of the "I am Lord Voldemort" 3 anagram.
In
Half-Blood Prince, the reader is introduced to Snape's mother Eileen
Prince through Hermione's determination to find out just who the Half-Blood
Prince really was. She finds a clipping of Eileen as a student as well as old
Daily Prophet announcements of both her marriage to Muggle Tobias Snape as well
as Severus's birth.4 Hermione discovers information about Eileen Prince while
trying to help Harry find out who the Potions book Harry had been using all
year could have belonged to in the past. Why bring Eileen into the equation at
all? In the Harry Potter series, the role of the mother is one of the
most important. Think of Molly Weasley, Lily Potter, Merope Gaunt Riddle,
Narcissa Malfoy, and even Petunia Dursley. It would not be surprising at all to
learn that the key to Snape's heart belongs to his own mother.
J.K.
Rowling once explained that some parts of Half-Blood Prince were
originally intended for the second book, but she thought some parts were too
revealing that early in the series.5 If we had found out Snape's
mother's name as early as Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the
similarities between Madam Pince and Snape could have been spotlighted, since
the anagram would have been apparent. As it is, only now, after Snape appears
to have committed the most heinous of crimes, after we question his motives,
would Rowling want to reveal the evidence of their relationship. Perhaps the
identity of his mother might provide evidence about his loyalties?
In
Half-Blood Prince, we learn Snape lives in a rundown Muggle neighborhood
and he owns quite a large collection of books. It would seem it is his family
home based on the fact that it is not well maintained, as Snape is at Hogwarts
much of the year, as well as being situated in a Muggle neighborhood. It seems
hard to believe that Snape would choose to purchase such a home and
inheritance seems the more likely explanation, just as Sirius stayed in his
parents' house at Grimmauld Place. Since we have found out his mother's name,
the savvy reader might have been able to identify the mysterious Half-Blood
Prince, one Severus Snape, based on Spinner's End. Perhaps his the
resemblance of his home to a library should also be considered a significant
piece of information.
"Turn to Page 394" 6
In
the first five books, excepting Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,
each time Madam Pince is mentioned - which is in only one chapter of each book
’ it has immediately followed a Snape-heavy chapter, and in some way Madam
Pince copies or mirrors his actions.
In
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry fears that if he asks Madam
Pince about Nicholas Flamel, Snape will find out about it.7Not just any teacher,
but Snape specifically. On the first reading, it seemed this was important
because Snape appeared to be the bad guy. But in light of this theory, it could
also point to the fact that it would be Madam Pince giving the information to
Snape. In this very first book, Rowling uses identical phrases for both of
these characters: "What they needed was a nice long search without Madam Pince
breathing down their necks' and "Snape made them all nervous, breathing
down their necks while they tried to remember how to make a Forgetfulness
potion." 8 Rowling is very careful
with her words, and I believe this repetition is very significant.
In
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry is accused of
wrongdoing in the incident with Mrs. Norris. Snape suggests there are
"suspicious [. . .] circumstances." 9 In this scene,
Dumbledore famously tells Snape that a person is "innocent until proven
guilty." 10 Harry suggests they
all get to bed before Snape "tries to frame us for something else." 11 Sure enough, in the
very next chapter, Hermione comes to Madam Pince with a note from Gilderoy
Lockhart, so she can check out Most Potente Potions from the library's
restricted section.12 Madam Pince is immediately suspicious, echoing Snape's
words. "Madam Pince held the note up to the light, as though determined to detect
a forgery, but it passed the test." 13 In both cases, Snape
and Madam Pince attempt to find something out of the ordinary and assume that
something wrong must have occurred. Interestingly enough, in Sorcerer's
Stone, the book Snape takes from Harry mentions Madam Pince in the
introduction,14 while here in Chamber of Secrets, it's a Potions
book the Trio are trying to get from the library. Once again Rowling appears to
be using parallels between Snape and Pince, placing in the Trio's hands the
books that belong to the other.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a more subtle example to be
sure. Certainly one of the most memorable scenes from that book occurs when
Snape, Filch and Mad-Eye Moody come across one another late at night, when
Harry drops the egg containing the clue for the Second Task of the Triwizard
Championship.15He is on his way back from the prefect's bath, where
he had been working on the egg clue, when he attracts their attention,
although only Moody knows he's there. In the following chapter, Madam Pince
sends Harry on his way because the library is closing, but he sneaks back in to
continue searching for a way to breathe under water.16 The similarity between
the two scenes in this cases revolves entirely around the setting: both take
place at night, Harry is working on clues for the second task of the Triwizard
Tournament in each, and both times he is out past curfew with his Invisibility
Cloak. However, it does still follow the pattern of Madam Pince showing herself
in the chapter following Snape and with a passing similarity between the
two in this case.
The
most significant incident occurs in Harry Potter and the Order of the
Phoenix. In the chapter of Snape's Worst Memory we see an out-of-control,
enraged Snape after he finds that Harry had looked into the Pensieve while
Snape had left his office. Clearly he has been wronged, and it takes all of his
effort not to throttle Harry within an inch of his life.
"Get out, get out, I don't want to
see you in this office ever again!"
And as Harry hurtled toward the
door, a jar of dead cockroaches exploded over his head. He wrenched the door
open and flew away up the corridor, stopping only when he had put three floors
between himself and Snape.17
So
Harry gets away as fast as he can, running from a Snape "white with rage" 18, a Snape throwing
things at him and ordering him out of his office.
In
the very next chapter, only six pages later, Harry and Ginny are eating
chocolate in the library, though eating in the library is strictly forbidden.
When caught, Ginny says ingenuously, "I forgot' 19 just as Harry should
have known better than to look in the Pensieve. Madam Pince's reaction once
again closely resembles Snape's:
Madam Pince was swooping down upon
them, her shriveled face contorted with rage.
"Chocolate in the library!" she
screamed. "Out-out-OUT!"
And whipping out her wand, she
caused Harry's books, bag, and ink bottle to chase him and Ginny from the
library, whacking them repeatedly over the head as they ran.20
Madam
Pince is also raging, telling Harry to get out, having something fly behind
(and hit, in this case) Harry's head. Harry and Ginny are both running, just as
Harry did from Snape. Quite amusing as well is the fact that Snape throws
cockroaches and Harry and Ginny are eating chocolate: sounds like the making of
a Cockroach Cluster to me. If we aren't meant to see the connection there, I'd
be very surprised.
There
are lots of little things as well that, upon reflection, seem to stand out.
Both Snape and Pince have the tendency to "swoop." 21 Madam Pince uses her
own hexes and jinxes on library books, and we know Snape was a dab hand at
inventing his own.Madam Pince demands "respect" for the books checked out of
the library, and if Snape doesn't want respect ("Professor Snape, Harry" 22), who does? They both
are familiar with Muggle items: in Sorcerer's Stone, she "brandished" a
feather duster at Harry; while in Chamber of Secrets, Snape makes
reference to a matchbox.23 We know now that Snape should be familiar with the Muggle
world ’ as he lives in a Muggle neighborhood ’ but that doesn't explain why
Madam Pince is comfortable with Muggle artifacts as she is a witch, unlike,
say, Filch, who is a squib.
The Nose
It
seems that the one thing that doesn't really follow is Madam Pince's nose. From
Snape's memory in the fifth book we see a hook-nosed man yelling at a cowering
woman. It appears these two people are his parents. Eileen Prince's nose is not
described as hook-nosed any time she has been mentioned. Snape certainly has
always been described that way, from the very first book, he has been described
with "greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin." 24 Madam Pince, is a
"thin, irritable woman who looked like an underfed vulture." 25 Those descriptions
hold until Order of the Phoenix: when Tonks is changing her nose at
Grimmauld Place over dinner, Harry mentions that one of them looks like Snape's
"beak-like" nose.26 "Beak-like" is a new description for his nose. When we
see Madam Pince in Half-Blood Prince, she has a "hooked nose." 27 Why now?
After five books her physical description suddenly includes something so
quintessentially Snape. Now we learn about Eileen Prince, now we can make the
connection between Pince and Prince. Logically, there has to be evidence that
they are one and the same person. Acting like Snape is significant, but the
reader must be able to see the evidence as well. Once Snape went to beak-like
and Madam Pince went to hook-nosed, their lines of distinction overlapped. So
while Eileen Prince is in hiding in the library, she acquires a slight
resemblance to her son. We have never seen the two of them together. Perhaps
Hermione would have been the one to work that out, if given the opportunity. I
suspect she might be the one who does it in Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows.
Argus Filch
Argus
Filch seems to be nearly the only person Snape can get along with on a regular
basis. No doubt part of that is because they have similar feelings about
punishing recalcitrant students. In Sorcerer's Stone, Snape takes from
Harry the library's copy of Quidditch Through the Ages, telling him he
isn't allowed to take library books outside. Harry later goes to retrieve the
book from Snape and comes across Filch passing Snape bandages for his injured
leg. At the time, it was more important to realize Snape must have been "up to
something"
28rather than noticing that Snape was depending on Filch, of all people,
to help him tend his wounds. Snape doesn't seem the type to ask for help from
anyone. Filch reports to Snape about goings-on in the castle late at night,
including Harry's foray into the restricted section of the library. But if we
skip forward to Half-Blood Prince, Harry and Hermione argue about
whether Filch and Madam Pince are "secretly in love with each other." 29Interesting, since
Madam Pince doesn't come to dinner, and they aren't seen playing footsy in the
Great Hall. Why even mention them in the same sentence? Because we are meant to
start putting these anvil-sized clues together.
While
it's true that Filch showed pleasure in Umbridge's reign at Hogwarts, his
relationships with both Snape and Madam Pince both show hints of something more
that just cranky insistence on following the rules. Filch escorts Madam Pince
to Dumbledore's funeral. Considering how completely Madam Pince appears to be
cut off from everyone else at Hogwarts, this shows that isn't completely true.
Half-Blood Prince displays quite a bit of match-making: Harry and Ginny,
Lupin and Tonks, Ron and Hermione and Fleur staying with Bill. It is hard to
imagine Filch, on the spur of the moment, having an altruistic compulsion to
see whether Madam Pince wanted an escort to the funeral. That would be much
more generous display than I would have ever believed possible from him. The
only way I can fathom at all his being with her is if there is something to be
made of the two of them together ’ making Snape's relationship with Filch
suddenly more understandable.
A Little Background Music
As
someone who researched name meanings for my own children, I fully understand
Rowling's desire to use them to their maximum worth. Remus Lupin tells us about
him in just two words. The same is true of Dolores Umbridge. Rowling explained:
"I just can't move on until I know I've called them the right thing." 30Perhaps a closer look
at both Irma and Eileen is in order.
The
name Irma comes from German. It means "entire, whole, universal,complete." 31
When Harry asks Dumbledore how he can be so sure Snape is on his side,
Dumbledore thinks for a moment and then replies, "I trust Severus Snape
completely." 32Dumbledore also tells
Draco he can hide him and his family more "completely" than he could ever
dream.33I would wager that
Dumbledore has made this offer before and has successfully made people
disappear. Could he have made the offer to Snape and hidden his mother Eileen
at Hogwarts?
Eileen
can be the Irish form of the name Helen, which means "torchlight" in Greek.34 It can also be a
variant of Eibhlin, meaning "bird." 35 I think the meaning "light" could
be significant for Snape, who seems to wallow in the darkness. Whereas "bird"
reflects what I believe Snape's patronus would be, which is the Augurey, the Irish
Phoenix. St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, is the patron saint of
converts, difficult marriages and divorced people, as well as empresses.36 Rowling has said that
the names of her characters are tremendously important, some having as many as
8 or 9 before she got it right.37 With Helena, all her
bases are covered: Snape could be considered a convert, as he switched sides;
it seems apparent after Order of the Phoenix that Eileen's marriage to
Tobias was no picnic; and Eileen herself was a Prince which corresponds to the
royal connotations. St. Helena is almost always represented in art wearing a
crown and/or a cross because she was famous for going to Palestine in search of
the True Cross of Jesus, which she supposedly helped find.38 In Half-Blood
Prince, in the only photo Hermione finds of Eileen, she is described as
"simultaneously cross and sullen." 39 Quite a lot of work to
manage to get a cross in there, but kudos to Rowling for doing it.
St.
Helena's husband left her for someone he thought would make a more successful
match, but her son stayed loyal to her. When he became Emperor, "Constantine
made up for the neglect his father paid to St. Helena, ordering all honor be
paid to the mother of the sovereign." 40 Helena was also rumored to be the
daughter of an English prince, but it seems to have been proven false.41 Constantine himself
was crowned Emperor at York, which many readers believe is the general area of
Spinner's End.42 This theory is based on the fact that there are two
villages called Snape in England, one in Suffolk and one in North Yorkshire,
only 40 miles from York. Rowling did say Snape "is the name of a place in
England." 43 One doesn't have to
necessarily believe in such a fine end for our former potions master to wonder
why Eileen is so very similar to St. Helena. I think her son's devotion to her
would be especially fitting for someone like Snape. We know he was loved by
someone.44Does he not have a face only a mother could love?
Vulture or Augurey?
Another
small point of interest is the fact that Madam Pince is described as
"vulture-like." There are two ways of looking at this. In the Egyptian pantheon
of gods, the mother goddess was Mut (or Maut). She was represented as a "woman
with wings or as a vulture wearing the crowns of royalty." 45 Her role led to the
word for mother in Egyptian being her very own name: mwt. The griffon
vulture was associated with royalty.46 So with the vulture we
have a link to both royalty (Prince) and motherhood.
But
perhaps more significantly, there is, in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find
Them, an animal that is also vulture-like: the Augurey bird, also referred
to as an Irish Phoenix.
A thin and mournful-looking bird,
somewhat like a small and underfed vulture in appearance, the Augurey is
greenish black. It is intensely shy, nests in brambles and thorn, eats large
insects and fairies, flies only in heavy rain, and otherwise remains hidden in
its tear-shaped nest. . . . Augurey feathers are useless as quills because they
repel ink.47
I
find this creature a perfect blend of what we know about Madam Pince and Eileen
Prince. It's thin, which describes both of them; "underfed vulture" 48 has been used exactly
to describe Madam Pince; mournful looking, which matches Eileen who was
described as sullen; Irish like the name Eileen; remaining hidden as Irma stays
in her library; except in heavy rain, which could refer to Dumbledore's funeral
in which a rain of tears could be seen ’ the one and only time Irma Pince has
ever been seen outside of the library; feathers that repel ink suits both the
librarian Irma and possibly the Gobstones captain Eileen, as Gobstones squirt a
disgusting liquid when you lose a point.49 It seems highly
unlikely that an animal that Rowling invented, unlike say the Hippogriff or the
Sphinx, would so perfectly match two totally different characters.
I
would actually wager that this creature is Snape's patronus. Snape appears to
have been attached to his mother based on the fact that he calls himself the
Half-Blood Prince. We know so little about his home life, that even something
so small feels fairly significant. More than halfway though the sixth of seven
books would appear to be an unusual time to introduce a character that will not
have any relevance to the story. It would have been more difficult to convince
the readers of Snape's duplicity if we had already suspected his mother was in
the castle. Dumbledore hires many outcasts ’ the unhirable like Lupin and
Snape, those in need of protection like Trelawney, his friends who owe him
a favor like Mad-Eye Moody. The theories about her reasons for being in the
castle would have been increased greatly knowing she was Snape's mother. I
believe that just like Harry's patronus is the animagus form of his father
James, like St. James ’ the patron of alchemists50 ’ Snape might have his
patronus be an animal linked to his mother, Eileen ’ as in St. Helena, patron
of converts. If I am correct about Snape's feelings towards his mother, it
would only be right that she would be represented as the patronus: a protector
inspired by happy thoughts. Rowling refused to answer what either Snape's
patronus or boggart are as "it would give so much away." 51 I think the answer to
both lies with Madam Pince.
If
the creature is Snape's patronus, it actually gives away a significant amount
of information. It looks like a vulture, perhaps that is what other Order
members believe it to be. Both vultures and the Augurey have negative
associations and yet, in the end have positive aspects. Just that it is a
phoenix opens many possibilities of rebirth and renewal. Perhaps it also would
hint to where Snape's loyalties lie, knowing he has any sort of phoenix as a
patronus, considering how closely Dumbledore is associated with phoenixes, in
both his patronus and with Fawkes.
Madam
Pince is escorted by Argus Filch to Dumbledore's funeral ’ her first foray outside
of the Hogwarts library known to us ’ wearing a "thick black veil that fell to
her knees." 52 Is she really more upset about Dumbledore's death than
any of the other staff, or does she have a secondary reason? Perhaps her son
has just fled with the suspicion of murder upon him. Snape obviously has a very
dangerous time ahead of him, maybe never to return. Any mother would be
distraught. We last saw Madam Pince behind a veil that would fit with the
phoenix part of the Augurey's name, both in that Augureys keep to themselves
and that the phoenix is reborn. Eileen Prince, possibly presumed dead, might
return from behind the veil, so to speak, and make her appearance in Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Information for Harry
Harry
is going to have his hands full in this final book: searching for the remaining
Horcruxes and defeating Voldemort. But he also has a side agenda at the moment,
and that is his desire for vengeance against Severus Snape. If Irma Pince is
indeed Eileen, she may have information for Harry on both counts: there is no
doubt that Hermione will make use of the library again at some point, whether
for remedies or information about the founders, and Harry may just need to be
confronted with something this concrete to be able to change his opinion of
Snape.
It
is also possible that up to now Harry wouldn't have differentiated between
Prince and Pince on his Marauder's Map, or even noticed it as there are so very
many people at any given time displayed on the map. Now, if he were to go back
to Hogwarts, he might make the connection between Eileen and Irma.
We
haven't learned yet what exactly caused Snape to return to Dumbledore's side.
There have been hints: something about the interpretation of the prophecy,
perhaps remorse over what he had done in causing the Potters to be targets of
Voldemort, maybe even pertaining to the life-debt he owed James. In Half-Blood
Prince, Dumbledore gives a fair idea of how he handles a situation such as
Draco Malfoy's. Draco is at a turning point in his relationship with Voldemort.
Up to now, Draco has only seen the advantages that Voldemort brings: power,
purity of blood, and access to the Dark Arts. However, once he has been given
his own task, he realizes the danger inherent in the association and fears for
himself as well as his parents. He feels he has no choice but to do the Dark
Lord's bidding.
Dumbledore
offers to hide Draco "more completely than you can possibly imagine." 53He even extends the
offer to Narcissa. But Draco refuses the offer. What might have happened if he
accepted it? I think we have our answer with Snape and Madam Pince. Snape was a
few years older than Draco, who was still a student when Dumbledore approached
him. Snape also seems to have been the one who went to Dumbledore and offered
to spy for the Order. But I think, with the offer to Draco, we have the
possible suggestion that Dumbledore might have hidden Eileen for Snape so that
Voldemort wouldn't go after his family after his desertion. And this is why Dumbledore
was so sure of Snape. This isn't to suggest some sort of blackmail on
Dumbledore's part. It was just his insurance policy.
Snape
carries a lot of guilt. I believe that more
than Harry or Dumbledore, it's his mother he wants to makes amends with. One
major difference between Snape and Madam Pince is regarding the writing in the
margins of Advanced Potions Making. Madam Pince is absolutely beside
herself when she finds Harry with the textbook, assuming he is committing a
crime most foul in writing in a book. I don't think she could recognize the
handwriting or the book, as she didn't get a very good look at it. I think that
illustrates how Snape was as a youth. There are many teenagers who dye
their hair or get a tattoo just because their parents would be appalled. Even
though he took her name for his nickname, Snape may well have blamed his mother
for their situation while at the same time, being proud of his magical
heritage. Furthermore, he seems to have held a significant grudge against his
father. Snape writing in his mother's book symbolizes the lengths to which he
rebelled against his parents' wishes. His rebellion culminates with his
becoming a Death Eater, when he had his Muggle father to bias him
against Muggles perhaps, similar to Voldemort in that regard. It's just a small
picture of the mindset he had as a teenager. Once a person becomes an
adult, they often see their parents in a different light.
With
Draco, we've also seen what Voldemort does with his new charges. All of the
Malfoys are threatened if Draco fails. Surely, as a new Death Eater, Snape may
have had a similar task. Succeed or pay the consequences. So even if Eileen
wasn't the perfect Molly Weasley sort of mother to Snape, I suspect that, if
she were threatened, it would attract Snape's attention rather quickly. And for
those who don't believe Snape had entirely altruistic reasons for joining the
side of the light, this makes perfect sense. But for Dumbledore, this show of
love on Snape's part would be important. Why is Snape's mother significant to
the story of Harry Potter? There is something that separates Severus
Snape from Lord Voldemort. That's why Eileen Prince makes her way into the
story. To understand Snape, we need to know his heart. That's why Snape
accepted Dumbledore's offer of protection for her. That's why Dumbledore had
complete confidence in Snape's motivation: Love.
Notes
1.
Rowling, Half-Blood Prince, 307.
2.
Ibid., 549.
3.
Ibid., Chamber of Secrets, 314.
4.
Ibid., Half-Blood Prince, 537-9, 637.
5.
Ibid., J.K. Rowling Official Site, "Title of Book Six: The Truth."
6.
Cuarón, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
7.
Rowling, Sorcerer's Stone, 198.
8.
Ibid., 198, 262.
9.
Ibid., Chamber of Secrets, 143.
10.
Ibid., 144.
11.
Ibid., 145.
12.
Ibid., 163-64.
13.
Ibid., 164.
14.
Ibid., Quidditch Through the Ages, vii.
15.
Ibid., Goblet of Fire, 467-78.
16.
Ibid., Goblet of Fire, 488-9.
17.
Ibid., Order of the Phoenix, 650.
18.
Ibid., 649.
19.
Ibid., 655.
20.
Ibid., 656.
21.
Ibid., Order of the Phoenix, 655; Sorcerer's Stone,
288.
22.
Ibid., Quidditch Through the Ages, vii; Fantastic Beasts and Where to
Find Them, i; Sorcerer's Stone, 299.
23.
Ibid., Sorcerer's Stone, 198; Chamber of Secrets 193.
24.
Ibid., Sorcerer's Stone, 126.
25.
Ibid., Chamber of Secrets, 163.
26.
Ibid., Order of the Phoenix, 85.
27.
Ibid., Half-Blood Prince, 307.
28.
Ibid., Sorcerer's Stone, 269.
29.
Ibid., Half-Blood Prince, 308.
30.
Ibid., Interview by Christopher Lydon.
31.
Thinkbabynames.com, "Irma - Name Meaning and Origin."; 20000-names,
"Female ˜I' Names." N.B. Interestingly enough "Imma" and "Ima" are also
variants of Irma in low German.
32.
Rowling, Half-Blood Prince, 549.
33.
Ibid., 592.
34.
123-baby-names, "The name origin and meaning of Helen."
35.
20000-names, "Female ˜E' Names."
36.
Jones, Patron Saints Index, "Helena."
37.
Rowling, Interview by Christopher Lydon.
38.
Kirsch, "St. Helena."
39.
Rowling, Half-Blood Prince, 537.
40.
Saints Alive!, "St. Constantine, and his mother, St. Helen."
41.
Kirsch, "St. Helena."
42.
Wikipedia, s.v. "Constantine the Great."; This essay argues that
Spinner's End is not located in Yorkshire; however, it does support the idea
that some readers do believe it to be there: http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/essay-spinners-end.html#yorkshire.
43.
Rowling, eToys interview.
44.
Anelli and Spartz, "TLC/MN interview Part Three."
45.
Seawright, "Mut, Mother Goddess of the New Kingdom, Wife of Amen, Vulture
Goddess."
46.
Ibid.
47.
Rowling, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, 2.
48.
Ibid., Chamber of Secrets, 163.
49.
Ibid., Prisoner of Azkaban, 50.
50.
Rowling, World Book Day Chat.
51.
Merton, "Nicholas Flamel: The Immortal French Alchemist."
52.
Rowling, Half-Blood Prince, 640.
53.
Rowling, Half-Blood Prince, 592.
Bibliography
123-baby-names. "The name origin and meaning of Helen" http://123-baby
names.com/origin_meaning_Helen.html (accessed 17 January 2007).
20000-names. "Female ˜E' Names" http://www.20000-names.com/female_e_names.htm#EILEEN
(accessed 17 January 2007).
”””.
"Female ˜I' Names" http://www.20000-names.com/female_i_names.htm#IRMA
(accessed 17 January 2007).
Anelli,
Melissa and Emerson Spartz. "The Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet interview
Joanne Kathleen Rowling: Part One," The Leaky Cauldron, 16 July
2005 http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/0705-tlc_mugglenet-anelli-1.htm
(accessed 17 January 2007).
”””.
"The Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling: Part
One," The Leaky Cauldron, 16 July 2005 http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/0705-tlc_mugglenet-anelli-3.htm
(accessed 17 January 2007).
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Alfonso Cuaron. Warner Bros.
Pictures. 2004.
Jones,
Terry. Patron Saints Index: St. Helena "Helena"http://www.catholic-forum.com/saintS/sainth01.htm
(accessed 17 January 2007).
Kirsch,
J.P.New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Helena "St. Helena" http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07202b.htm
(accessed 17 January 2007)
Lydon,
Christopher. J.K. Rowling interview transcript, The Connection (WBUR
Radio), 12 October, 1999 http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/1099-connectiontransc2.htm#p9
(accessed 17 January 2007).
Merton,
Reginald. Magicians, Seers, and Mystics "Nicholas Flamel: The Immortal
French Alchemist" http://www.alchemylab.com/flamel.htm
(accessed 17 January 2007).
Rowling,
J. K. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. New York: Scholastic,
Arthur A. Levine Books, 2001.
”””.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Scholastic, Arthur A.
Levine Books, 1999.
”””.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. New York: Scholastic, Arthur A.
Levine Books, 2000.
”””.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. New York: Scholastic, Arthur A.
Levine Books, 2005.
”””.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. New York: Scholastic, Arthur
A. Levine Books, 2003.
”””.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. New York: Scholastic, Arthur
A. Levine Books, 1999.
”””.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. New York: Scholastic, Arthur A.
Levine Books, 1998.
”””.
Quidditch Through the Ages. New York: Scholastic, Arthur A. Levine Books,
2001.
”””.
eToys interview transcript Fall 2000 http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/fall00-etoys.html
(accessed 13 February 2007).
”””.
J.K. Rowling Official Site.Section: News Tuesday 29 June 2004 "Title of
Book Six: The Truth" http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/news_view.cfm?id=77
(accessed 17 January 2007).
”””.
World Book Day Chat, March 4, 2004 http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2004/0304-wbd.htm
(accessed 17 January 2007).
Saints
Alive! "St. Constantine, and his mother, St. Helen" http://www.ichrusa.com/saintsalive/constant.htm
(accessed 17 January 2007).
Seawright,
Caroline. "Mut, Mother Goddess of the New Kingdom, Wife of Amen, Vulture
Goddess" http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/mut.htm
(accessed 17 January 2007).
Thinkbabynames."Irma-Name Meaning and Origin" http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Irma
(accessed 17 January 2007).
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, s.v. "Constantine the Great" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Great
(accessed 17 January 2007).
