[HPforGrownups] S. Snape suspected snake speech?

[Jamieson]

No: HPFGUIDX 16725

Hello All!

Amy Z wrote:

> (I searched and didn't find this discussed...if someone remembers it,
> please direct me to the thread if you can.)
>
> The duelling club scene makes me wonder whether Snape already
> suspected that Harry was a Parselmouth and deliberately made him
> confront a snake.
>
> Herewith the scene with much snipping:
>
> **********************************************************************
>
>   "Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you?' [says Lockhart]
>   "A bad idea, Professor Lockhart," said Snape . . . . "How about
> Malfoy and Potter?" said Snape with a twisted smile.
>
>    <various stuff with Lockhart>
>
>    Snape moved closer to Malfoy, bent down and whispered something in
> his ear.  Malfoy smirked too. . . .
>
>    Malfoy raised his wand quickly and bellowed "Serpensortia!"
>    The end of his wand exploded.  Harry watched, aghast, as a long
> black snake shot out of it, fell heavily onto the floor between them
> and raised itself, ready to strike. . . .
>    "Don't move, Potter," said Snape lazily, clearly enjoying the sight
> of Harry standing motionless, eye to eye with the angry snake.  "I'll
> get rid of it. . ."
>
>    <Lockhart scares it towards Justin, Harry makes it stop, Justin
> reacts angrily>
>
>    Snape stepped forward, waved his wand and the snake vanished in a
> small puff of black smoke.  Snape, too, was looking at Harry in an
> unexpected way:  it was a shrewd and calculating look, and Harry
> didn't like it.
>
> **********************************************************************
>
> So, to my question:  of all the things he could do, why does Snape
> cause Draco to set a snake on Harry?
>
> Does Snape already suspect Harry of knowing Parseltongue?  What would
> give him that idea before this incident?
>
> Does he suspect him of being the Heir of Slytherin even before this
> incident?  Again, why would he?
>
> Or did he just suggest a nasty spell and didn't have any idea that a
> snake would reveal something telling about Harry?  His "shrewd and
> calculating" look could just mean he's wondering =now=, or that he now
> sees a way to give Potter a very hard time.
>
> Amy Z

My view on that is this: Snape knew Malfoy and Harry hated each other. And he favours Malfoy, so why not put two arch enemies together? I think he wanted to scare Harry any way possible. Part of me suspects Snape of knowing exactly what was
going to happen, and another part of me wonders if even Snape can plan that far ahead...just mho.

Hugs and Bright Blessings
Jamieson

--
"....dream harder, dream true..."