Pensieve

From UnknowableWiki

A Pensieve is a shallow stone basin used to store memories. Odd runes and symbols are carved around its edges.

The contents of a Pensieve—memories—emit a slivery light and are described as being bright whitish silver in color. According to Albus Dumbledore, to use a Pensieve, "One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one's mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one's leisure." Dumbeldore also mentions that when viewing memories in a Pensieve, "it becomes easier to spot patterns and links...when they are in this form." (GF30).

Contents 1 Appearances in the series 1.1 Death Eaters 1.2 Occlumency 1.3 Snape's worst memory 1.4 Prophecy 1.5 Lessons 1.6 Snape

Appearances in the series

Death Eaters

Harry first enters a Pensieve in the Headmaster's office, during his fourth year. Intrigued by its appearance, he touches the contents briefly and is transported to two of Dumbledore's memories (GF30):

• The Wizengamot trial of Igor Karkaroff, in which he betrays several of his fellow Death Eaters; and
• The trial of Bartemius Crouch, Jr., Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange for the torture of Frank and Alice Longbottom.

Some familiar figures are present at the trial, notably Alastor Moody and Barty Crouch, Sr., the latter of which is in a particularly difficult position in the second trial, and condemns his son without hesitation. It is the first time Harry hears of what happened to the Longbottoms, which sheds some light on Neville's reaction to the Defence Against the Dark Arts class they had earlier that year about the Unforgivable Curses (GF14).

Occlumency

The following year, Dumbledore, concerned with the effects of the connection between the minds of Voldemort and Harry, orders Severus Snape to give the boy Occlumency lessons. Snape borrows the Headmaster's Pensieve, presumably to extract memories he would not like Harry to see by accident (OP24).

Snape's worst memory

Full article: Snape's Worst Memory

One evening, however, Draco Malfoy calls Snape to attend to a fellow Slytherin and the teacher cancels the lesson, leaving behind the unattended Pensieve on his desk. Prodding the contents of the basin, Harry witnesses a memory of Snape's involving the four Marauders and Lily Evans (OP28).

Prophecy

Dumbledore uses the Pensieve to show Harry the Prophecy which involved Voldemort and himself made by Professor Trelawney (OP37).

Lessons

Harry's most important experience with Dumbledore's Pensieve takes place in his sixth year, in which Dumbledore uses the Pensieve to teach Harry about Lord Voldemort's past, which Dumbledore believes is important for Harry to know to be able to defeat Voldemort in the final battle. Dumbledore also uses his Pensieve to examine an important memory Harry retrieves from Professor Slughorn in which Professor Slughorn told a curious young Voldemort about Horcruxes.

Snape

After Dumbledore's death, Severus Snape keeps the Pensieve in its usual cabinet. When Voldemort murders him in the Battle of Hogwarts, Snape gives a lengthy string of memories to Harry (DH32), which explains Severus' love for Lily Potter, his true allegiance and Dumbledore's master plan. Harry goes to the Headmaster's office and uses the Pensieve therein to see the memories (DH33).