I am so confused about the HBP - maybe it's because I was so excited I read it too fast, but here's my question: I don't really believe Snape could be the HBP! Earlier in the book, Lupin tells Harry to look at the date in which it was published to see if that helps him locate the HBP - the book tells us it was nearly 50 years ago, before his father's time! So then Harry rules out his father, and any of his friends as being the HBP! Then we find out that it is Snape who wrote the potions in the book? The only way this could make sense is that it was an old book when Snape got a hold of it.

Anyone else's thoughts?? Help me, I'm going crazy!!

Yes it is a mistery, I believe it's just another of Rowling's mistakes. I supose we can say that Snape borowed that book.

yes snape was the half blodd prince because his mother owned the book before him. hermione told harry toward the end of the book about how eileen prince or whatever had the book once and that she was snapes mother.

so this was why the date was fifty years old. that was the time that snapes mother had had the book. it just so happened that the book went to him.

yeah, I think that tom is right.it was his moms book...sooooo, Snape would hav gained possesion (like the Weaslys?was he poor?)

harry was told be hermione that snapes mom owned the book first therefore making it possible

hermione told harry that there was a student named eileen prince or whatever, she never said she owned the book. but what probobly happened was that snape was poor and needed and old book cheap so the used book he got turned out to be 50 years old in harry's recent day and age.

He go the book from his mother

Yes- Snape's mom had the book, and yes, Snape was poor and I assume he made all the notes in it. Interesting that Snape's mom and Voldemort went to school at the same time and were probably in the same house.