Bluebell Railway (South of Sussex)

1. What a wonderful steam-train ride we had!  This is our train as it was turned around at the end of the line. It wasn't bluebell season but we saw many remarkably pleasant sceneries nonetheless. I was excited to see the steam and hear the train whistle. Just like in movies!  We don't have that in Quebec, even as an historic attraction. Great stuff!
2. Here is a first class wagon just like in Harry Potter! Yeah! I thought Hermione would pop out of one of those ; )
3. Some old luggage. I couldn't help but think that one of those may be one that Snape would have used as a student so I took that picture!!

Potions Master and Professor - What's in a name

 Station Master and Potions Master (click to see the picture): if you listened to the first Snape Podcast, you will remember that those charming ladies (surely all Americans) discussed about the meaning of 'master' in Snape's title as a teacher. They wondered if it had any academic meaning so I took this picture to make sure I remembered to talk about it when I was back.

I found this information about 'Master' on Wikipedia.  I believe the definition that could concern Snape are these:
 

"Master" was used in England for men of high rank, such as gentlemen, priests or scholars. It was later extended to all respectable men and was the forerunner of "Mister", which is derived from it. After its replacement in common speech by "Mister", Master was retained as an address for boys or young men.	This is not it I think because Snape is called Professor Snape, not Master Snape
Master: Some academic institutions, notably colleges within universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, have a post of "Master", generally being the head of the institution. In formal address it can be customary to address such persons as "Master"	Yes, the position Snape occupies is that of "Potions Master" because you can say: "I need one Potions Master on staff" but again, Snape is not addressed as Master.
Master: A tradesman who has qualified on completion of his apprenticeship may be described as "Master Plumber", "Master baker", although that is not a form of address. The term is generally used now to refer to an artisan considered to be at the top of their craft.	Bingo! I think this is why people call Snape professor and not master. He's qualified and could have completed an apprenticeship. I wonder with whom? Or maybe he just passed a mastery exam at the Ministry as soon as he could since he was such a genius at potions! But I like the idea of an apprenticeship, maybe that's the missing part of Snape' story! What if he trained under someone recommended by Lucius or who was already a Death Eater.  That would make a lot of sense!!

Here is some more interesting information about apprentices of which I'm sure Rowling took her inspiration from.

Here is about PROFESSOR from Merriam-Webster:

2 a : a faculty member of the highest academic rank at an institution of higher education b : a teacher at a university, college, or sometimes secondary school c : one that teaches or professes special knowledge of an art, sport, or occupation requiring skill


I believe that in Snape's case, both b and c apply because at Hogwarts, all teachers are referred to as 'professor' and also because Snape has a special knowledge about Potions. Or like Hagrid with magical creatures.  It's not a title that follows them around if they suddenly don't teach anymore as proven by Lupin when we met him again after Harry's third year. Or Snape now that he has fled Hogwarts.

Conclusion: I think I am not too far from the truth if I say that Snape is a Potions Master because he is certified as one, and no matter what he does now he won't lose that (think of Professor Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes who, even though he was the bad guy, never lost the 'privilege' of being called a professor).  However, Snape won't be called a professor anymore because he is not teaching at Hogwarts anymore, and only holding a position there seem to give someone the right to be called professor in the Harry Potter world.

Here are other scholarly pictures I took because I thought about Snape and his being a professor at Hogwarts when I visited those places:

-Eton College (the most famous high school in England, Windsor) : This is the desk of the deputy head's or the second professor of Eton's oldest classroom. I thought Snape would love the austere atmosphere of this classroom ; )  Everything in there is carved with loads of graffitis, except the columns and window shutters which are meant to be carved by those who are accepted at King's Collge.  Those who don't make it used to carve their name in the other wooden parts of the class anyway. So it is impossible to write anything on these school desks because of the holes. You need a book underneath to be able to write! Why keep the writing tables anyway? Because they are as old as the college, from the 14th century! o_o Not to mention those very uncomfortable benches you sit on! x_x I sat there for less than 10 minutes and I thought I wouldn't survive a whole lecture.  Incredible!

An old village school's classroom from the Wealds & Downs Museum.  Afictionado and I got the same idea at the same time! We opened our mouth to voice it out at the same time and almost tumbled on our words because we knew what the other would say!!  This is so much like I imagine Snape's classroom desk to be!! Here are more details of the classroom. Picture 1  -  2  -  3.  I think that if Snape had been born a local school master, he would have had a class like that one!

 Spinner's End inspired pictures

This is a shot of Lewes' river bank. It's really not like Spinner's End, but the moss growing on the side of the river walls and the brick houses made me thought of it anyhow. All we would need now is a bit of flat river bank on which Narcissa could have Apparated on, we add a little garbage floating down the river, at night and we have a good mix!  I know my friend Afictionado will say: "No, not at all!" but to my Quebecer eye this looks the closest to Spinner's End as I've seen.

Sherlock Holmes' study room: one   two    three   It's fascinating how I imagined Snape's personal study or lab to be somewhat similar to this if Snape had only a little space for himself, such as might happen if he spent summers at Spinner's End.

Padded cell: I had not been able to imagine how Spinner's End sitting room could look like a padded cell so well until I saw the library in Arundel Castle. But unfortunately we couldn't take pictures. Which is why the minute I visited a place where I could take a picture I did. That was the British Museum's study room and exhibition room.  Now I do know how it feels like ^_^

 Objects, places and symbols

• Wellington boots: these are the real thing ; ) Forget the hat though, I just liked the boots because in my mind that's what I always thought Snape would be wearing outside.  
• Bottles and jars: I had always thought that those labels in the movie had been manufactured for the film and had this 'wizarding look' about them. But when I saw those in an old object exhibition museum, I realized they had been inspired from real bottles. Maybe even these ones at the Museum of London's Victorian times, who knows!
• A Victorian chemist in Yesterday's World (I wish the exhibition had been as 'fresh' as when they opened the museum years ago though!)  I thought this was a nice parallel with Snape. And look at the nice bottles I've found!  The window in front made it impossible to take good pictures unfortunately but I was happy to see them nonetheless.  I thought this little cabinet was very nice looking and would be handy to keep ingredients there! But here comes the greatest: HAIR OIL!  Afictionado and I were so surprised and thrilled because we had no idea hair oil was actually used!!  And not only one but two... next to a bottle with Potter written on it ; )  Here is what the label says: "Purified and richly perfumed - Rose Hair Oil - For Nourishing and Beautifying the Hair - Cary Cocks & Roper - Chemists &t. - MAN OF ROSS HOUSE, ROSS" Imagine that! So I've made a little investigation about hair oil. I found many products that are modern and organic, but not much about past products because that's could be the reason why Rowling made Snape's hair oily: a product. Could be natural or from lack of care or because of hair oil!
  
  Take this example for instance: Burdock root oil - natural hair care oil and traditional hair loss prevention treatment Burdock (Arctium Lappa) has been a favorite medicinal herb for centuries and was used for many ailments. Burdock root oil extract, also called Bur oil, is popular in Europe as a scalp treatment applied to improve hair strength, shine and body, help reverse scalp conditions, combat hair loss. It is used as a natural hair oil to help get rid of scalp itching and dandruff, promote healing of irritated skin and scalp.  
  Which means Snape could be using that because that's the only way he's learnt how to wash his hair!

• Bats, lots of them!  This is from the Natural Science Museum in South Kensington.  I thought there wasn't much fun being there except for the dinosaurs because if I had wanted to see some normal animals, I would have gone to a zoo where they actually MOVE! Anyhow, here are many types of bats for the greatest greasy bats of them all. No, not Batman! Snape!  And I also took this picture because along with Afictionado (Foxy) and Lupin (Wolfy), we all correspond with another named Philippa (Batty) because she's the type to stay in her cave for a long time. And since we're all into the Harry Potter thing thanks to Snape, I had to take a picture for her as well!
• Bats on a dome-ceiling in the ante-chamber before the Grand Foyer at the Opéra de Paris (Palais Garnier).   This little room was so beautiful. The gold paint on the ceiling does not appear as it should on the picture, it should look shiny. The dark marine colour isn't apparent either but it was really great!  Snape would have love this room!
• Horoscope for Capricornus anyone? I took this shot while going up the escalator leading to the higher floors of the Science Museum. If you've been there, you'll know which escalator I'm talking about because you see those on the left wall while the escalator passes through a huge Earth model!  
•  Old Pubs - I thought those were nice old looking pubs that Snape might feel at ease in!
• Wealds and Down Museum - Again but this time I wanted to show the village which I imagine a little wizard community would look like. And this horrible looking guy whom I call Filch gave me a fright! I was curious and wondering what was behind that road paying post house, and there I was faced with this Filch-looking model! Eek!  The room was not lit, only with candle-like bulbs so I couldn't see at first.
• Royal Golden Eagle - I mean, it's a real Royal Eagle because it is owned by her Majesty the Queen! ; ) So this one never had a better name because I'm pretty sure it's a Golden Eagle! Why do I include him here? Because apart from a raven, I always thought Snape would prefer to use such an eagle instead of a normal owl! I was really lucky to see it there because the trainer was on break!  And believe me, this eagle may look stern but it was nothing compared to the trainer!

King's Cross Station - the real one!

I went alllll the way up to see this! My feet were hurting so badly but I kept going!  I had no idea there actually was something there so I was thrilled when I saw this! Great stuff! I had my picture taken with this 'magical trolley' that is half-cut to give you the impression that it magically is about to cross to Platform 9¾.  Here is the view on the left and that pedestrian bridge Hagrid and Harry were standing on!

Places like Hogwarts: I found many places that looked like parts of Hogwarts. I thought I'd share them with you!

1. Arundel Castle - The Duke of Norfolk's castle which we visited at the last minute! ; )
2. Arundel Castle - That reminds me of the way out Snape could be using to assist Death Eater reunions. His escape way sort of.  I thought this door in the rock looked like it.
3. Battle Abbey in the town of Battle - It's a very nice abbey from outside, don't ask me what's init though.
4. Canterbury - This is the front-side, I thought it looked a lot like Hogwarts because of the side parapets. These two next pictures also remind me of Hogwarts or views I would have chosen if I had to build it.  And this great golden eagle stand reminded me so much of Dumbledore's! Can you see the reflection of the stained-glass on it?
5. Eton College - This reminded me of that part of Hogwarts with the clock, in the first movie when Longbottom is on his broom! And this perfect grass along the halls, wonderful!  This last one as well, this is where they invented the Eton sport called 'War' . I can't believe they play a game more violent than football!
6.  Fifteenth Century Bookshop in Lewes. Very Harry-Potty look ; )
7.  Windsor Castle - Those two views look like bits of Hogwarts in my opinion.