conuly

I think part of it is the use of the word "cowering". You don't cower before someone who's saying a few harsh words (well, unless you're Neville Longbottom... I kid, I feel the Neville-love!), you cower before someone you're afraid is going to hurt you. A woman cowering before a shouting man (especially if she's sheltering a child) is a quick-and-dirty shortcut for ahowing domestic abuse.


Also, all the memories we saw were emotionally charged ones, and nasty ones at that. We didn't see Harry's first day at kindergarten, or teenage Snape trying to master the 'swoopy walk'. I don't think daddy scolding the babysitter would have the emotional resonance.



That doesn't necessarily make it canonically true, it's just why (I think) people take it as gospel.