Possible Discrepancy in PS & Interim Report II: Dale V. Fry Taste Test

[Andrea]

No: HPFGUIDX 18094

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Haggridd" <jkusalavagemd at y...> wrote:
> While listening to PS for the first time from the Steven Fry 
> recording, I heard the conversation between Snape and Quirrel in 
> chapter 13, and I thought to myself that, while it certainly gives 
> the impression (albeit a false one) that Snape was trying to obtain 
> Quirrel's method of protection in order to steal the Philosopher's 
> Stone, I could not construct an alternative innocent explanation for 
> this conversation in light of what we all now know about Snape and  
> about Voldemort.  Perhaps this was addressed in HPforGU a long time 
> ago.  If so, could somebody give me a reference?  If not, does 
anyone 
> have any theories to account for this conversation?

This is actually one of my favorite scenes to reread with the 
knowledge of the truth.  I don't have my book handy, so this is a 
little rough, but here goes.

Snape starts out with, "Have you figured out how to get past Hagrid's 
pet yet?"  Harry takes it to mean that Quirrell is supposed to find 
out for Snape, when in fact Quirrell needs to know for himself and 
Snape knows that's an obstacle against him.

Then the words are drowned out and Harry only hears, "...your little 
bit of hocus-pocus."  Harry thinks that Snape wants to know how 
Quirrell was protecting the stone so Snape can defeat it, but Snape is 
actually referring to the spell Quirrell was putting on Harry's 
broomstick during the Quiddich match.

Finally, Snape asks Quirrell to decide who's side he's on.  Again, 
Harry thinks Snape is threatening him to give him information, but 
Snape is actually telling Quirrel *not* to help Voldemort.

I love rereading scenes like this to see how wonderfully JKR managed 
to deceive us.  It's like watching "Sixth Sense". :)


Andrea