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{{Spoiler|WU|HM}}
 
{{Youmay|Albus Dumbledore's possession (item)|the [[Pensieve|object]] in general}}
  
{{Youmay|Albus Dumbledore's possession (item)|the [[Pensieve|object]] in general}}
 
{{Object infobox
  
{{Object infobox
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|name=Hogwarts Pensieve
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|name = Hogwarts Pensieve
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|image=[[File:Pensieve PM.png]]
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|image = [[File:Pensieve PM.png]]
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|location =
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|manufacturer=
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|manufacturer =
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|made=Prior to the 9th century
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|made = Prior to the 9th century<ref name="PM"/>
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|usage=To view memories about [[Tom Riddle]] and to empty his head of thoughts
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|usage = To view memories and to empty thoughts into<ref name="GOF30"/>
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|owners=*[[Albus Dumbledore]]
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|owners = *[[Albus Dumbledore]]<ref name="GOF30"/>
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*[[Severus Snape]]
  
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*[[Severus Snape]]<ref name="DH33">{{DH|B|33}}</ref>
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*[[Headmaster]]s and [[Headmaster|Headmistress]]es of Hogwarts
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*[[Headmaster]]s and [[Headmaster|Headmistress]]es of Hogwarts<ref name="GOF30"/>
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|first={{GOF}}
  
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}}
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|latest={{DH}}
  
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{{Dialogue a-b|Harry Potter|What is it?|Albus Dumbledore|This? It is called a [[Pensieve]]. I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind.|Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter discussing Dumbledore's Pensieve|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
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|last=
  
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The '''[[Pensieve]] of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]''' was a [[magic]]al instrument used by the Headteachers to view memories.<ref name="GOF30"/> [[Albus Dumbledore|Professor Albus Dumbledore]] used it to review particular memories of [[Tom Riddle]], among other things, and to give [[Harry Potter]] [[Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore's private lessons|private lessons]] during the [[1996–1997 school year]].<ref name="HBP10">{{HBP|B|10}}</ref><ref name="HBP13">{{HBP|B|13}}</ref><ref name="HBP17">{{HBP|B|17}}</ref><ref name="HBP20">{{HBP|B|20}}</ref><ref name="HBP23">{{HBP|B|23}}</ref> It remained in the [[Headmaster]]'s [[Headmaster's office|office]] after Dumbledore's passing, so was also used after the death of [[Severus Snape]] by [[Harry Potter]] to review the memories Snape had given him.<ref name="DH33"/>
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}}
 
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{{Dialogue a-b|Harry Potter|What is it?|Albus Dumbledore|This? It is called a [[Pensieve]]. I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind.|Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter discussing Dumbledore's Pensieve|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire }}
  
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The '''[[Pensieve]] of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]''' was a [[magic]]al instrument used by the Heads to view memories. [[Albus Dumbledore|Professor Albus Dumbledore]] used it to review particular memories of [[Tom Riddle]], among other things, and to give [[Harry Potter]] [[Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore's private lessons|private lessons]] during the [[1996–1997 school year]]. It remained in the [[Headmaster]]'s [[Headmaster's office|office]] after Dumbledore's passing, so was also used after the death of [[Severus Snape]] by [[Harry Potter]] to review the memories Snape had given him.
  
   
 
==History of use==
  
==History of use==
 
===Early history and origins===
  
===Early history and origins===
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[[File:PottermorePensieve.png|thumb|The cabinet containing the Pensieve in the Headmaster's office]]
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Little is known about this Pensieve's origins, except that it was made of stone and carved with modified Saxon runes, putting its creation well before the founding of Hogwarts.<ref> {{PM}}</ref> Legend has it that the founders of the school found the Pensieve half buried in the ground, this was supposedly one of the reasons the school was located in such a remote location. A long line of revered Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts have left behind memories from their tenure and thus contributed to the creation of an invaluable library of reference for headmasters and headmistresses yet to come. [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]], a long-serving chief administrator of the school and by many in his time regarded as one of the most esteemed leaders the school ever had, presumably added his own experiences for this purpose, although it is known that he used it when he began collecting memories about [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] as well.
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Little is known about this Pensieve's origins, except that it was made of stone and carved with modified Saxon runes, putting its creation well before the founding of Hogwarts. Legend has it that the founders of the school found the Pensieve half buried in the ground, this was supposedly one of the reasons the school was located in such a remote location.<ref name="PM">{{WW|pensieve}}</ref> A long line of revered Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts have left behind memories from their tenure and thus contributed to the creation of an invaluable library of reference for headmasters and headmistresses yet to come.<ref name="GOF30"/> [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]], a long-serving chief administrator of the school and by many in his time regarded as one of the most esteemed leaders the school ever had, presumably added his own experiences for this purpose,<ref name="GOF30"/> although it is known that he used it when he began collecting memories about [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] as well.<ref name="HBP10"/><ref name="HBP13"/><ref name="HBP17"/><ref name="HBP20"/><ref name="HBP23"/>
   
 
===1995===
  
===1995===
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{{Quote|A shallow stone basin lay there, with odd carvings around the edge: runes and symbols that Harry did not recognise. The silvery light was coming from the basin’s contents, which were like nothing Harry had ever seen before. He could not tell whether the substance was liquid or gas. It was a bright, whitish silver, and it was moving ceaselessly; the surface of it became ruffled like water beneath wind, and then, like clouds, separated and swirled smoothly. It looked like light made liquid — or like wind made solid — Harry couldn’t make up his mind.|Harry Potter viewing the Pensieve in the Headmaster's office for the first time|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
 
[[File:Memoryouthead.JPG|241x241px|thumb|left|[[Albus Dumbledore]], with a memory out of his head, ready to put inside the Pensieve]]
  
[[File:Memoryouthead.JPG|241x241px|thumb|left|[[Albus Dumbledore]], with a memory out of his head, ready to put inside the Pensieve]]
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A few days prior to the Third Task of the [[Triwizard Tournament]], [[Harry Potter]] had a vision in [[Divination (class)|Divination class]].<ref name="GoF29">{{GOF|B|29}}</ref>
   
  ⚫
As he had been told to report such things to Dumbledore, Harry hastened to the [[Headmaster]]'s [[Headmaster's office|office]]. When he arrived, he overheard the final stages of an argument concerning the disappearance of [[Bartemius Crouch Senior|Bartemius Crouch Snr]]. Upon being left alone by the adults, Harry first found the Pensieve in a private cupboard with the door ajar. There were already memories in it that Dumbledore had been reviewing prior to the arrival of [[Minister for Magic]] [[Cornelius Fudge]].<ref name="GOF30"/>
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A few days prior to the Third Task of the [[Triwizard Tournament]], [[Harry Potter]] had a vision in [[Divination]] class.<ref name="GoF29">{{GOF|B|29}}</ref>
  
   
  ⚫
Curiosity got the best of Harry, and he looked too closely at the instrument. When his nose touched the odd substance, Harry fell into the memory that was inside the Pensieve.<ref name="GOF30">{{GOF|B|30}}</ref> Initially confused, Harry settled in to watch a hearing for the [[Durmstrang Institute]] [[Headmaster]], [[Igor Karkaroff]]. He was chained and bedraggled looking. In the memory, he had come from [[Azkaban]] to give up the names of his fellow [[Death Eaters]]. Of the names he listed, many fell flat, until he accused [[Augustus Rookwood]], an [[Unspeakable]].<ref name="GOF30" />
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As he had been told to report such things to Dumbledore, Harry hastened to the [[Headmaster]]'s [[Headmaster's office|office]]. When he arrived, he overheard the final stages of an argument concerning the disappearance of [[Bartemius Crouch Senior|Bartemius Crouch Snr]]. Upon being left alone by the adults, Harry first found the Pensieve in a private cupboard with the door ajar. There were already memories in it that Dumbledore had been reviewing prior to the arrival of [[Minister for Magic]] [[Cornelius Fudge]].
 
   
  ⚫
The room suddenly transitioned, and Harry was watching the sentencing of [[Ludovic Bagman|Ludo Bagman]], who had been unwittingly used by Rookwood. He also saw the trial of [[Wizengamot]] juror [[Bartemius Crouch Senior|Barty Crouch]]'s son, [[Bartemius Crouch Junior|Barty Jnr]], along with Death Eaters [[Bellatrix Lestrange|Bellatrix]], [[Rodolphus Lestrange|Rodolphus]], and [[Rabastan Lestrange]]. They were accused and convicted of torturing [[Alice and Frank Longbottom]] into insanity, and Crouch imprisoned his son. Albus Dumbledore found Harry in this memory and got him out. Dumbledore then explained to Harry why he kept a Pensieve.<ref name="GOF30" />
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Curiosity got the best of Harry, and he looked too closely at the instrument. When his nose touched the odd substance, Harry fell into the memory that was inside the Pensieve.<ref name="GoF30">{{GOF|B|30}}</ref> Initially confused, Harry settled in to watch a hearing for the [[Durmstrang Institute]] [[Headmaster]], [[Igor Karkaroff]]. He was chained and bedraggled looking. In the memory, he had come from [[Azkaban]] to give up the names of his fellow [[Death Eaters]]. Of the names he listed, many fell flat, until he accused [[Augustus Rookwood]], an [[Unspeakable]].<ref name="GoF30" />
  
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<nowiki> </nowiki>The room suddenly transitioned, and Harry was watching the sentencing of [[Ludovic Bagman|Ludo Bagman]], who had been unwittingly used by Rookwood. He also saw the trial of [[Wizengamot]] juror [[Bartemius Crouch Senior|Barty Crouch]]'s son, [[Bartemius Crouch Junior|Barty Jr]], along with Death Eaters [[Bellatrix Lestrange|Bellatrix]], [[Rodolphus Lestrange|Rodolphus]], and [[Rabastan Lestrange]]. They were accused and convicted of torturing [[Alice and Frank Longbottom]] into insanity, and Crouch imprisoned his son. Albus Dumbledore found Harry in this memory and got him out. Dumbledore then explained to Harry why he kept a Pensieve.<ref name="GoF30" />
  
   
 
===1996===
  
===1996===
 
{{Quote|The light was coming from the Pensieve sitting on Snape's desk. The silver-white contents were ebbing and swirling within. Snape's memories... things he did not want Harry to see if he broke into Snape's defences accidentally.|The Pensieve in 1996|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
  
{{Quote|The light was coming from the Pensieve sitting on Snape's desk. The silver-white contents were ebbing and swirling within. Snape's memories... things he did not want Harry to see if he broke into Snape's defences accidentally.|The Pensieve in 1996|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
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A few days before the [[Christmas holidays]] in [[1995]], Harry had a [[vision]] in which he could see, from within the [[snake]]'s mind, [[Nagini]] [[Attack on Arthur Weasley|attacking]] [[Arthur Weasley]].<ref name="OotP21">{{OOTP|B|21}}</ref> He subsequently felt [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] well up inside him. Concerned about these new developments, Dumbledore ordered Harry to take [[Occlumency]] [[Harry Potter and Severus Snape's private lessons|lessons]] with [[Severus Snape]] the next year.<ref name="OotP24">{{OOTP|B|24}}</ref> He also allowed Snape to use the Pensieve for the duration of the lessons, most likely to provide the Potions master with a means to hide his own secrets, as well as protect Snape's own (very unpleasant) memories in case his attempts to train the boy, by repeatedly exposing Harry to [[Legilimency]], were to backfire due to a [[Shield Charm]].<ref name="OotP24" />
   
  ⚫
[[File:James harry Lily.PNG|235x235px|thumb|Harry Potter viewing a memory of Lily arguing with James in their fifth year]]
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A few days before the [[Christmas holidays]] in [[1995]], Harry had vision in which he could see, from within the snake's mind, [[Nagini]] [[Attack on Arthur Weasley|attacking]] [[Arthur Weasley]].<ref name="OotP21">{{OOTP|B|21}}</ref> He subsequently felt [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] well up inside him. Concerned about these new developments, Dumbledore ordered Harry to take [[Occlumency]] [[Harry Potter and Severus Snape's private lessons|lessons]] with [[Severus Snape]] the next year.<ref name="OotP24">{{OOTP|B|24}}</ref> He also allowed Snape to use the Pensieve for the duration of the lessons, most likely to provide the Potions master with a means to hide his own secrets, as well as protect Snape's own (very unpleasant) memories in case his attempts to train the boy, by repeatedly exposing Harry to [[Legilimency]], were to backfire due to a [[Shield Charm]].<ref name="OotP24" />
 
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[[File:James harry Lily.PNG|235x235px|thumb|A memory Harry sees featuring Lily (in fifth year) standing up to James Potter]]
  
   
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While Snape was out during one of these lessons, Harry found the memories that Snape had stored; one in which he was a little boy crying in a corner, another during his Hogwarts years, and the last of Harry's father [[James Potter I|James Potter]] and godfather [[Sirius Black]] bullying Snape, while Snape was not very innocent on his own, sending back painful hexes at James. James then publicly humiliated him, resulting in [[Lily J. Potter|Lily Evans]]', Harry's future mother, defence of the teenage Snape, as the two were friends. Snape then said he did not need help, calling Lily a "''[[mudblood]]''," a derogatory term for [[muggle-born]]s.<ref name="OotP28">{{OOTP|B|28}}</ref> This caused Lily to get very agitated, and led the two to fall out. This would later prove to be Snape's worst mistake.
 +
While Snape was out during one of these lessons, Harry found the memories that Snape had stored; one in which he was a little boy crying in a corner, another during his Hogwarts years, and the last of Harry's father [[James Potter I|James Potter]] and godfather [[Sirius Black]] bullying Snape, while Snape was not very innocent on his own, sending back painful hexes at James. James then publicly humiliated him, resulting in [[Lily J. Potter|Lily Evans]]', Harry's future mother, defence of the teenage Snape, as the two were friends. Snape then said he did not need help, calling Lily a "''[[mudblood]]''," a derogatory term for [[muggle-born]]s. This caused Lily to get very agitated, and led the two to fall out. This would later prove to be Snape's worst mistake.<ref name="OotP28">{{OOTP|B|28}}</ref>
   
 
Once Snape found out Harry saw this, he got very angry at Harry, even throwing things at him. Snape subsequently terminated the Occlumency lessons with Harry.<ref name="OotP28" />
  
Once Snape found out Harry saw this, he got very angry at Harry, even throwing things at him. Snape subsequently terminated the Occlumency lessons with Harry.<ref name="OotP28" />
   
 
{{Main|Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore's private lessons}}
  
{{Main|Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore's private lessons}}
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{{Dialogue a-b-a|Dumbledore|So, Harry, you have been wondering, I am sure, what I have planned for you during these — for want of a better word — lessons.|Harry|Yes sir.|Well, I have decided that it is time, now that you know what prompted Lord Voldemort to try and kill you fifteen years ago, for you to be given certain information.|Dumbledore on the lessons he was going to give Harry|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
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{{Dialogue a-b-a-b|Dumbledore|So, Harry, you have been wondering, I am sure, what I have planned for you during these — for want of a better word — lessons.|Harry|Yes sir.|Well, I have decided that it is time, now that you know what prompted Lord Voldemort to try and kill you fifteen years ago, for you to be given certain information.|You said, at the end of last term, you were going to tell me everything. Sir.|Dumbledore informing Harry of his upcoming private lessons with him|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
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[[File:Hbp scho deluxe.jpg|244x244px|thumb|left|The Gaunt shack seen through [[Bob Ogden]]'s memory]]
   
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Sometime in July of that year, [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]] visited [[4 Privet Drive]] to fetch Harry.<ref name="HBP3">{{HBP|B|3}}</ref> After doing some business along the way, the two eventually ended up at [[The Burrow]]. Before he departed, Dumbledore informed Harry that they would be having private lessons.<ref name="HBP4">{{HBP|B|4}}</ref> At the first of these, Dumbledore led Harry back into the Pensieve. Together they viewed the memory of Bob Ogden. He went to visit [[Morfin Gaunt]] as the young man had attacked a [[Non-magic people|Muggle]], later revealed to be [[Tom Riddle Senior|Tom Riddle Snr]] Harry watched as the oddities of the [[House of Gaunt|Gaunt family]] were displayed before him. He recoiled at the abuse [[Marvolo Gaunt]] used against his daughter, [[Merope Riddle|Merope]]. Following Mr Ogden as he left the shack, Harry and Dumbledore returned to the [[Headmaster's office]].<ref name="HBP10"/>
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[[File:Hbp scho deluxe.jpg|244x244px|thumb|left|The Gaunt shack seen through [[Bob Ogden]]'s memory]]
  
   
  ⚫
A month later, they used the Pensieve to review Dumbledore's first visit with a young [[Tom Riddle]]. Harry saw the conditions in which the orphan boy grew up and heard the awful stories about his behaviour. He witnessed a demanding and cruel streak in Tom Riddle at quite a young age.<ref name="HBP13"/>
⚫
Sometime in July of that year, [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]] visited [[4 Privet Drive]] to fetch Harry.<ref name="HBP3">{{HBP|B|3}}</ref> After doing some business along the way, the two eventually ended up at [[The Burrow]]. Before he departed, Dumbledore informed Harry that they would be having private lessons.<ref name="HBP4">{{HBP|B|4}}</ref> At the first of these, Dumbledore led Harry back into the Pensieve. Together they viewed the memory of Bob Ogden. He went to visit [[Morfin Gaunt]] as the young man had attacked a [[Muggle]], later revealed to be [[Tom Riddle Senior|Tom Riddle Snr]] Harry watched as the oddities of the [[House of Gaunt|Gaunt family]] were displayed before him. He recoiled at the abuse [[Marvolo Gaunt]] used against his daughter, [[Merope Riddle|Merope]]. Following Mr Ogden as he left the shack, Harry and Dumbledore returned to the [[Headmaster's office]].<ref name="HBP10">{{HBP|B|10}}</ref>
  
−  
⚫
A month later, they used the Pensieve to review Dumbledore's first visit with a young [[Tom Riddle]]. Harry saw the conditions in which the orphan boy grew up and heard the awful stories about his behaviour. He witnessed a demanding and cruel streak in Tom Riddle at quite a young age.<ref name="HBP13">{{HBP|B|13}}</ref>
  
   
 
===1997===
  
===1997===
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{{Quote|This is perhaps the most important memory I have collected.|Dumbledore on the false Horace Slughorn memory|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)}}
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{{Quote|As you might have noticed, that memory has been tampered with.|Dumbledore on the false Horace Slughorn memory|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
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[[File:Slughorn's first office 1.jpg|246x246px|thumb|The false memory of [[Horace Slughorn]]]]
  
[[File:Slughorn's first office 1.jpg|246x246px|thumb|The false memory of [[Horace Slughorn]]]]
   
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After [[Christmas holidays]], Dumbledore called Harry down to his office.<ref name="HBP17">{{HBP|B|17}}</ref> They then watched two memories together, one in which Tom Riddle confronted his uncle [[Morfin Gaunt]] and later framed him for the murders of the [[Riddle family|Riddles]], the other being a falsified memory of Horace Slughorn talking to Tom Riddle about [[Horcrux]]es.<ref name="HBP17" /> Dumbledore then told Harry that, to proceed, they required the real memory from Slughorn.
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After [[Christmas holidays]], Dumbledore called Harry down to his office.<ref name="HBP17">{{HBP|B|17}}</ref> They then watched two memories together, one in which Tom Riddle confronted his uncle [[Morfin Gaunt]] and later framed him for the murders of the [[Riddle family|Riddles]], the other being a falsified memory of Horace Slughorn talking to Tom Riddle about [[Horcrux]]es. Dumbledore then told Harry that, to proceed, they required the real memory from Slughorn.<ref name="HBP17" />
   
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[[File:Hepzibah Smith memory, B6C20M1.png|251x251px|thumb|left|[[Hepzibah Smith]], owner of both Helga Hufflepuff's cup and Salazar Slytherin's locket, visited by Tom Riddle]]
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[[File:Hepzibah Smith's memory.png|251x251px|thumb|left|[[Hepzibah Smith]], owner of both Helga Hufflepuff's cup and Salazar Slytherin's locket, visited by Tom Riddle]]
   
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After not recovering the memory from Slughorn, Harry watched two more memories, one being the memory of [[Hokey]] the [[house-elf]], in which there was foreshadowing that [[Helga Hufflepuff]]'s [[Helga Hufflepuff's Cup|Cup]] and [[Salazar Slytherin]]'s [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket|Locket]] were made into Horcruxes.<ref name="HBP20">{{HBP|B|20}}</ref> The second memory was of Tom Riddle talking to Albus Dumbledore about the [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] teaching position. This memory was foreshadowing [[Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem]] being made into a Horcrux.<ref name="HBP20" />
 +
After not recovering the memory from Slughorn, Harry watched two more memories, one being the memory of [[Hokey]] the [[house-elf]], in which there was foreshadowing that [[Helga Hufflepuff]]'s [[Hufflepuff's Cup|Cup]] and [[Salazar Slytherin]]'s [[Slytherin's Locket|Locket]] were made into Horcruxes.<ref name="HBP20">{{HBP|B|20}}</ref> The second memory was of Tom Riddle talking to Albus Dumbledore about the [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] teaching position. This memory was foreshadowing [[Ravenclaw's Diadem|Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem]] being made into a Horcrux.<ref name="HBP20" />
   
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When Harry had acquired the true memory of Horace Slughorn, he went to Dumbledore's office. He then saw the younger Horace Slughorn tell Tom Riddle about how to make a Horcrux and the main purpose of one.<ref name="HBP23">{{HBP|B|23}}</ref> Also, he noticed the concern in Slughorn when he saw the greedy expression upon Riddle's face. Due to Dumbledore's death at the end of the school year, that was Harry's last lesson with Dumbledore.
 +
When Harry had acquired the true memory of Horace Slughorn, he went to Dumbledore's office. He then saw the younger Horace Slughorn tell Tom Riddle about how to make a Horcrux and the main purpose of one. Also, he noticed the concern in Slughorn when he saw the greedy expression upon Riddle's face.<ref name="HBP23">{{HBP|B|23}}</ref> Due to Dumbledore's death at the end of the school year, that was Harry's last lesson with Dumbledore.
   
 
Severus Snape then became [[Headmaster]] of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] and took possession of the Pensieve, as almost all of Dumbledore's possessions were bequeathed to Hogwarts School.<ref name="DH7">{{DH|B|7}}</ref>
  
Severus Snape then became [[Headmaster]] of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] and took possession of the Pensieve, as almost all of Dumbledore's possessions were bequeathed to Hogwarts School.<ref name="DH7">{{DH|B|7}}</ref>
   
 
===1998===
  
===1998===
  +
{{Quote|The stone Pensieve lay in the cabinet where it had always been: Harry heaved it on to the desk and poured Snape’s memories into the wide basin with its runic markings around the edge. To escape into someone else’s head would be a blessed relief ... nothing that even Snape had left him could be worse than his own thoughts. The memories swirled, silver-white and strange, and without hesitating, with a feeling of reckless abandonment, as though this would assuage his torturing grief, Harry dived.|Harry preparing to view Snape's memories in the Pensieve|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
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[[File:Harry-potter7-Harry Pensieve.jpg|250x250px|thumb|Harry using a Pensieve to view Snape's memories during the one-hour armistice]]
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[[File:Harry Potter DH using Dumbledore's Pensieve.jpg|250x250px|thumb|Harry using a Pensieve to view Snape's memories during the one-hour armistice]]
   
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At the death of [[Severus Snape]] during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], he left multiple memories from his childhood to Harry. Harry captured them when they leaked out of Snape's body in a flask conjured by [[Hermione Granger]].<ref name="DH22">{{DH|B|22}}</ref> When they returned to the castle, Harry secretly proceeded to Dumbledore's office, where he watched Snape's memories.<ref name="DH23">{{DH|B|23}}</ref>
+
At the death of [[Severus Snape]] during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], he left multiple memories from his childhood to Harry. Harry captured them when they leaked out of Snape's body in a flask conjured by [[Hermione Granger]]. When they returned to the castle, Harry secretly proceeded to Dumbledore's office, where he watched Snape's memories.<ref name="DH33"/>
   
−
He saw the child Snape meeting Lily and [[Petunia Dursley|Petunia Evans]], and telling Lily that she was a [[Wizardkind|witch]], and how [[Dementor]]s guarded the wizard prison [[Azkaban]]. He then saw Lily and Petunia's argument where Petunia called Lily a "freak," which caused Lily to be a little angry at Snape, until she met Snape's enemies, [[James Potter I|James Potter]] and [[Sirius Black]]. Harry then saw Snape, Lily, and [[Marauders|The Marauders]]' [[Sorting ceremony]], where Snape was [[Sorting Hat|Sorted]] into [[Slytherin]], while Lily was Sorted into [[Gryffindor]].<ref name="DH23" /> As the memories continued, Harry saw how Snape calling Lily a "''Mudblood''" ruined their relationship and Snape's path to the service of [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]].
+
He saw the child Snape meeting Lily and [[Petunia Dursley|Petunia Evans]], and telling Lily that she was a [[Wizardkind|witch]], and how [[Dementor]]s guarded the wizard prison [[Azkaban]]. He then saw Lily and Petunia's argument where Petunia called Lily a "freak," which caused Lily to be a little angry at Snape, until she met Snape's enemies, [[James Potter I|James Potter]] and [[Sirius Black]]. Harry then saw Snape, Lily, and [[Marauders|The Marauders]]' [[Sorting ceremony]], where Snape was [[Sorting Hat|Sorted]] into [[Slytherin]], while Lily was Sorted into [[Gryffindor]].<ref name="DH33" /> As the memories continued, Harry saw how Snape calling Lily a "''Mudblood''" ruined their relationship and Snape's path to the service of [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]].<ref name="DH33"/>
   
−
The rest of Snape's memories included Snape negotiating with Dumbledore and agreeing to keep Harry safe. Following this, Snape agreed to keep an eye on [[Professor]] [[Quirinus Quirrell]] and, later, told Dumbledore of [[Igor Karkaroff]]'s anxiety. The last few included Snape agreeing reluctantly to [[Killing Curse|kill]] Dumbledore, how Snape did not want Harry to die, despite the fact that Harry was a [[Horcrux]] and James Potter's son, because of his [[love]] of Lily Potter, how Snape [[Confundus Charm|Confunded]] [[Mundungus Fletcher]] into suggesting the "''[[Seven]] Potters''" scheme, how Snape tried to save [[George Weasley]], but unintentionally [[Sectumsempra|cut off his ear]], how Snape read Lily's letter to "[[Sirius Black|Padfoot]] ," and how Snape used his [[Patronus Charm|silver doe]] to lead Harry to the [[Godric Gryffindor's Sword|Sword]] of [[Godric Gryffindor|Gryffindor]].
 +
The rest of Snape's memories included Snape negotiating with Dumbledore and agreeing to keep Harry safe. Following this, Snape agreed to keep an eye on [[Professor]] [[Quirinus Quirrell]] and, later, told Dumbledore of [[Igor Karkaroff]]'s anxiety. The last few included Snape agreeing reluctantly to [[Killing Curse|kill]] Dumbledore, how Snape did not want Harry to die, despite the fact that Harry was a [[Horcrux]] and James Potter's son, because of his [[love]] of Lily Potter, how Snape [[Confundus Charm|Confunded]] [[Mundungus Fletcher]] into suggesting the "''[[Seven]] Potters''" scheme, how Snape tried to save [[George Weasley]], but unintentionally [[Sectumsempra|cut off his ear]], how Snape read Lily's letter to "[[Sirius Black|Padfoot]] ," and how Snape used his [[Patronus Charm|silver doe]] to lead Harry to the [[Sword of Gryffindor|Sword]] of [[Godric Gryffindor|Gryffindor]].<ref name="DH33"/>
   
 
===Later usage===
  
===Later usage===
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==Etymology==
  
==Etymology==
−
The 'pensieve' is a homonym of 'pensive', which means deep/ serious thought; it is also a pun, as it acts as a ''sieve'' of thought (''pensée'' in French)<ref>{{PM}}</ref>.
 +
The 'pensieve' is a homonym of 'pensive', which means deep/ serious thought; it is also a pun, as it acts as a ''sieve'' of thought (''pensée'' in French).<ref name="PM"/>
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
  
==Behind the scenes==
−  
 
*The shape of the Pensieve changed drastically from the [[Harry Potter (film series)|film adaptations]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' and ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', as in the former it was on some sort of runic tabletop, and in the latter it was in a bowl, as was described in the [[Harry Potter (book series)|books]]. In {{DH|F2}}, when [[Harry Potter|Harry]] enters to the [[Headmaster's office]], he finds the stone tabletop with the Pensieve and he removes the bowl from it and throws it in the air, where it levitates on its own.
  
*The shape of the Pensieve changed drastically from the [[Harry Potter (film series)|film adaptations]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' and ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', as in the former it was on some sort of runic tabletop, and in the latter it was in a bowl, as was described in the [[Harry Potter (book series)|books]]. In {{DH|F2}}, when [[Harry Potter|Harry]] enters to the [[Headmaster's office]], he finds the stone tabletop with the Pensieve and he removes the bowl from it and throws it in the air, where it levitates on its own.
 
*Also, in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry is shown inside the memory and watching from a third-person perspective. In the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the memories in the pensive are shown from a first-person perspective.
  
*Also, in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry is shown inside the memory and watching from a third-person perspective. In the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the memories in the pensive are shown from a first-person perspective.
 
*The Pensieve is [[Emma Watson]]'s favourite prop from the series.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3FP-nmkFL0&feature=relmfu</ref>
  
*The Pensieve is [[Emma Watson]]'s favourite prop from the series.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3FP-nmkFL0&feature=relmfu</ref>
−
*As the Pensieve is supposed to predate the school and was also found in the spot where the school was later erected could mean that the spot on which Hogwarts stands had previously been the location of an ancient practise of magic and could also be some of the magic that is imbued into the castle and its grounds.
+
*As the Pensieve is supposed to predate the school and was also found in the spot where the school was later erected could mean that the spot on which Hogwarts stands had previously been the location of an ancient practise of magic and could also be some of the magic that is imbued into the castle and its grounds.
   
 
==Appearances==
  
==Appearances==
Line 97: Line 94:
 
*{{HBP|G}}
  
*{{HBP|G}}
 
*{{DH}}
  
*{{DH}}
  +
*{{DH|F1}} {{Flashback}}
 
*{{DH|F2}}
  
*{{DH|F2}}
 
*{{DH|G2}}
  
*{{DH|G2}}
−
*{{HPV|CH}}{{Mention}}
 +
*{{CC}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{CC|P}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{HPPU}}
  +
*{{LEGO|Y2}}
  +
*{{WWHP}}
  +
*{{PM}}
  +
*{{WW}}
  +
*{{HPK}}
  +
*{{HPV|CH}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{HM}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{WU}}
   
 
==Notes and references==
  
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
  
{{Reflist}}
−  
 
[[pt-br:Penseira de Hogwarts]]
  
[[pt-br:Penseira de Hogwarts]]
 
[[Category:Albus Dumbledore's possessions|Pensieve]]
  
[[Category:Albus Dumbledore's possessions|Pensieve]]
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[[Category:Magical objects]]
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[[Category:Mental magic]]
 
[[Category:Severus Snape's possessions|Pensieve]]
  
[[Category:Severus Snape's possessions|Pensieve]]
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[[Category:Mental magic]]
  
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[[Category:Magical objects]]
  

Revision as of 05:08, 23 February 2021

Hand pointing right transparent Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Wizards Unite & Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.
As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

"Point me!"
This article is about Albus Dumbledore's possession (item). You may be looking for the object in general.

Harry Potter: "What is it?"
Albus Dumbledore: "This? It is called a Pensieve. I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind."
— Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter discussing Dumbledore's Pensieve[src]

The Pensieve of Hogwarts was a magical instrument used by the Headteachers to view memories.[2] Professor Albus Dumbledore used it to review particular memories of Tom Riddle, among other things, and to give Harry Potter private lessons during the 1996–1997 school year.[4][5][6][7][8] It remained in the Headmaster's office after Dumbledore's passing, so was also used after the death of Severus Snape by Harry Potter to review the memories Snape had given him.[3]

History of use

Early history and origins

PottermorePensieve

The cabinet containing the Pensieve in the Headmaster's office

Little is known about this Pensieve's origins, except that it was made of stone and carved with modified Saxon runes, putting its creation well before the founding of Hogwarts. Legend has it that the founders of the school found the Pensieve half buried in the ground, this was supposedly one of the reasons the school was located in such a remote location.[1] A long line of revered Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts have left behind memories from their tenure and thus contributed to the creation of an invaluable library of reference for headmasters and headmistresses yet to come.[2] Dumbledore, a long-serving chief administrator of the school and by many in his time regarded as one of the most esteemed leaders the school ever had, presumably added his own experiences for this purpose,[2] although it is known that he used it when he began collecting memories about Lord Voldemort as well.[4][5][6][7][8]

1995

"A shallow stone basin lay there, with odd carvings around the edge: runes and symbols that Harry did not recognise. The silvery light was coming from the basin’s contents, which were like nothing Harry had ever seen before. He could not tell whether the substance was liquid or gas. It was a bright, whitish silver, and it was moving ceaselessly; the surface of it became ruffled like water beneath wind, and then, like clouds, separated and swirled smoothly. It looked like light made liquid — or like wind made solid — Harry couldn’t make up his mind."
— Harry Potter viewing the Pensieve in the Headmaster's office for the first time[src]
Memoryouthead

Albus Dumbledore, with a memory out of his head, ready to put inside the Pensieve

A few days prior to the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament, Harry Potter had a vision in Divination class.[9]

As he had been told to report such things to Dumbledore, Harry hastened to the Headmaster's office. When he arrived, he overheard the final stages of an argument concerning the disappearance of Bartemius Crouch Snr. Upon being left alone by the adults, Harry first found the Pensieve in a private cupboard with the door ajar. There were already memories in it that Dumbledore had been reviewing prior to the arrival of Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge.[2]

Curiosity got the best of Harry, and he looked too closely at the instrument. When his nose touched the odd substance, Harry fell into the memory that was inside the Pensieve.[2] Initially confused, Harry settled in to watch a hearing for the Durmstrang Institute Headmaster, Igor Karkaroff. He was chained and bedraggled looking. In the memory, he had come from Azkaban to give up the names of his fellow Death Eaters. Of the names he listed, many fell flat, until he accused Augustus Rookwood, an Unspeakable.[2]

The room suddenly transitioned, and Harry was watching the sentencing of Ludo Bagman, who had been unwittingly used by Rookwood. He also saw the trial of Wizengamot juror Barty Crouch's son, Barty Jnr, along with Death Eaters Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rabastan Lestrange. They were accused and convicted of torturing Alice and Frank Longbottom into insanity, and Crouch imprisoned his son. Albus Dumbledore found Harry in this memory and got him out. Dumbledore then explained to Harry why he kept a Pensieve.[2]

1996

"The light was coming from the Pensieve sitting on Snape's desk. The silver-white contents were ebbing and swirling within. Snape's memories... things he did not want Harry to see if he broke into Snape's defences accidentally."
— The Pensieve in 1996[src]

A few days before the Christmas holidays in 1995, Harry had a vision in which he could see, from within the snake's mind, Nagini attacking Arthur Weasley.[10] He subsequently felt Lord Voldemort well up inside him. Concerned about these new developments, Dumbledore ordered Harry to take Occlumency lessons with Severus Snape the next year.[11] He also allowed Snape to use the Pensieve for the duration of the lessons, most likely to provide the Potions master with a means to hide his own secrets, as well as protect Snape's own (very unpleasant) memories in case his attempts to train the boy, by repeatedly exposing Harry to Legilimency, were to backfire due to a Shield Charm.[11]

James harry Lily

Harry Potter viewing a memory of Lily arguing with James in their fifth year

While Snape was out during one of these lessons, Harry found the memories that Snape had stored; one in which he was a little boy crying in a corner, another during his Hogwarts years, and the last of Harry's father James Potter and godfather Sirius Black bullying Snape, while Snape was not very innocent on his own, sending back painful hexes at James. James then publicly humiliated him, resulting in Lily Evans', Harry's future mother, defence of the teenage Snape, as the two were friends. Snape then said he did not need help, calling Lily a "mudblood," a derogatory term for muggle-borns. This caused Lily to get very agitated, and led the two to fall out. This would later prove to be Snape's worst mistake.[12]

Once Snape found out Harry saw this, he got very angry at Harry, even throwing things at him. Snape subsequently terminated the Occlumency lessons with Harry.[12]

Main article: Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore's private lessons
Dumbledore: "So, Harry, you have been wondering, I am sure, what I have planned for you during these — for want of a better word — lessons."
Harry: "Yes sir."
Dumbledore: "Well, I have decided that it is time, now that you know what prompted Lord Voldemort to try and kill you fifteen years ago, for you to be given certain information."
Harry: "You said, at the end of last term, you were going to tell me everything. Sir."
— Dumbledore informing Harry of his upcoming private lessons with him[src]
Hbp scho deluxe

The Gaunt shack seen through Bob Ogden's memory

Sometime in July of that year, Dumbledore visited 4 Privet Drive to fetch Harry.[13] After doing some business along the way, the two eventually ended up at The Burrow. Before he departed, Dumbledore informed Harry that they would be having private lessons.[14] At the first of these, Dumbledore led Harry back into the Pensieve. Together they viewed the memory of Bob Ogden. He went to visit Morfin Gaunt as the young man had attacked a Muggle, later revealed to be Tom Riddle Snr Harry watched as the oddities of the Gaunt family were displayed before him. He recoiled at the abuse Marvolo Gaunt used against his daughter, Merope. Following Mr Ogden as he left the shack, Harry and Dumbledore returned to the Headmaster's office.[4]

A month later, they used the Pensieve to review Dumbledore's first visit with a young Tom Riddle. Harry saw the conditions in which the orphan boy grew up and heard the awful stories about his behaviour. He witnessed a demanding and cruel streak in Tom Riddle at quite a young age.[5]

1997

"As you might have noticed, that memory has been tampered with."
— Dumbledore on the false Horace Slughorn memory[src]
Slughorn's first office 1

The false memory of Horace Slughorn

After Christmas holidays, Dumbledore called Harry down to his office.[6] They then watched two memories together, one in which Tom Riddle confronted his uncle Morfin Gaunt and later framed him for the murders of the Riddles, the other being a falsified memory of Horace Slughorn talking to Tom Riddle about Horcruxes. Dumbledore then told Harry that, to proceed, they required the real memory from Slughorn.[6]

Hepzibah Smith's memory

Hepzibah Smith, owner of both Helga Hufflepuff's cup and Salazar Slytherin's locket, visited by Tom Riddle

After not recovering the memory from Slughorn, Harry watched two more memories, one being the memory of Hokey the house-elf, in which there was foreshadowing that Helga Hufflepuff's Cup and Salazar Slytherin's Locket were made into Horcruxes.[7] The second memory was of Tom Riddle talking to Albus Dumbledore about the Defence Against the Dark Arts teaching position. This memory was foreshadowing Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem being made into a Horcrux.[7]

When Harry had acquired the true memory of Horace Slughorn, he went to Dumbledore's office. He then saw the younger Horace Slughorn tell Tom Riddle about how to make a Horcrux and the main purpose of one. Also, he noticed the concern in Slughorn when he saw the greedy expression upon Riddle's face.[8] Due to Dumbledore's death at the end of the school year, that was Harry's last lesson with Dumbledore.

Severus Snape then became Headmaster of Hogwarts and took possession of the Pensieve, as almost all of Dumbledore's possessions were bequeathed to Hogwarts School.[15]

1998

"The stone Pensieve lay in the cabinet where it had always been: Harry heaved it on to the desk and poured Snape’s memories into the wide basin with its runic markings around the edge. To escape into someone else’s head would be a blessed relief ... nothing that even Snape had left him could be worse than his own thoughts. The memories swirled, silver-white and strange, and without hesitating, with a feeling of reckless abandonment, as though this would assuage his torturing grief, Harry dived."
— Harry preparing to view Snape's memories in the Pensieve[src]
Harry Potter DH using Dumbledore's Pensieve

Harry using a Pensieve to view Snape's memories during the one-hour armistice

At the death of Severus Snape during the Battle of Hogwarts, he left multiple memories from his childhood to Harry. Harry captured them when they leaked out of Snape's body in a flask conjured by Hermione Granger. When they returned to the castle, Harry secretly proceeded to Dumbledore's office, where he watched Snape's memories.[3]

He saw the child Snape meeting Lily and Petunia Evans, and telling Lily that she was a witch, and how Dementors guarded the wizard prison Azkaban. He then saw Lily and Petunia's argument where Petunia called Lily a "freak," which caused Lily to be a little angry at Snape, until she met Snape's enemies, James Potter and Sirius Black. Harry then saw Snape, Lily, and The Marauders' Sorting ceremony, where Snape was Sorted into Slytherin, while Lily was Sorted into Gryffindor.[3] As the memories continued, Harry saw how Snape calling Lily a "Mudblood" ruined their relationship and Snape's path to the service of Lord Voldemort.[3]

The rest of Snape's memories included Snape negotiating with Dumbledore and agreeing to keep Harry safe. Following this, Snape agreed to keep an eye on Professor Quirinus Quirrell and, later, told Dumbledore of Igor Karkaroff's anxiety. The last few included Snape agreeing reluctantly to kill Dumbledore, how Snape did not want Harry to die, despite the fact that Harry was a Horcrux and James Potter's son, because of his love of Lily Potter, how Snape Confunded Mundungus Fletcher into suggesting the "Seven Potters" scheme, how Snape tried to save George Weasley, but unintentionally cut off his ear, how Snape read Lily's letter to "Padfoot ," and how Snape used his silver doe to lead Harry to the Sword of Gryffindor.[3]

Later usage

It is unknown whether or not the Pensieve was used by later Headmasters, such as Professor Minerva McGonagall or her successor.

Etymology

The 'pensieve' is a homonym of 'pensive', which means deep/ serious thought; it is also a pun, as it acts as a sieve of thought (pensée in French).[1]

Behind the scenes

  • The shape of the Pensieve changed drastically from the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, as in the former it was on some sort of runic tabletop, and in the latter it was in a bowl, as was described in the books. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, when Harry enters to the Headmaster's office, he finds the stone tabletop with the Pensieve and he removes the bowl from it and throws it in the air, where it levitates on its own.
  • Also, in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry is shown inside the memory and watching from a third-person perspective. In the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the memories in the pensive are shown from a first-person perspective.
  • The Pensieve is Emma Watson's favourite prop from the series.[16]
  • As the Pensieve is supposed to predate the school and was also found in the spot where the school was later erected could mean that the spot on which Hogwarts stands had previously been the location of an ancient practise of magic and could also be some of the magic that is imbued into the castle and its grounds.

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Pensieve" at Wizarding World
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 30 (The Pensieve)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 33 (The Prince's Tale)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 10 (The House of Gaunt)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 13 (The Secret Riddle)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 17 (A Sluggish Memory)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 20 (Lord Voldemort's Request)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 23 (Horcruxes)
  9. ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 29 (The Dream)
  10. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 21 (The Eye of the Snake)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 24 (Occlumency)
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 28 (Snape's Worst Memory)
  13. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 3 (Will and Won't)
  14. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 4 (Horace Slughorn)
  15. ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 7 (The Will of Albus Dumbledore)
  16. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3FP-nmkFL0&feature=relmfu
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