CoS - Ch. 12 questions

[katzefan at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 25317

1.  Did Snape know before the episode at the duelling club that 
Harry was a Parselmouth?

I don't think so, because when Harry calls off the snake, Snape 
disposes of the it and then gives Harry a `shrewd and calculating 
look.' I think Snape figured Harry would either freeze with fear
or run - Harry's ability to speak to the snake was totally
unexpected.

2.  Why was Snape looking at Harry with '...a shrewd and 
calculating look' after he told the snake to mind its manners?

I think he's reassessing Harry, in the wake of Harry showing a 
totally unexpected skill that was specifically linked to Salazar 
Slytherin.

3.  Fred and George cover themselves with fur and boils and 
jump out at Ginny (who's upset that Colin's been Petrified).  Do 
you think they're callous? 

Yes, in the way all siblings can be callous towards each other. 
How many kids chase a (usually younger) sibling around with a 
snake, spider or some other loathsome creature specifically 
because they know the youngster is frightened of the critter? I 
was pleased when Percy ("apoplectic with rage") threatens
them with a letter to their mother unless they cut it out.

4.  Do you think Fawkes's plumage colour is significant?

Hmmm ... hadn't noticed that before. Those *are* Gryffindor's 
colours, aren't they ...? 

5.  Why doesn't Harry tell Dumbledore what's bothering him? 

I think because Harry's already worried about hearing voices no 
one else can hear, and now he finds out he's got a skill that 
Salazar Slytherin was famous for - and Slytherin turns out all the 
evil wizards and witches. I suspect he doesn't want to tell 
Dumbledore at least partly because he's not sure he wants to 
hear what Dumbledore's explanation/reaction is -- will Harry be 
shifted to Slytherin? Or worse, expelled from Hogwarts? Will he 
suddenly become a pariah (which he very nearly does, as the 
attacks continue)? 

6.  Why was Harry in the Transfiguration corridor?  Is that the way 
to Gryffindor Tower?

Does this refer to the point where he stumbles over Justin Finch-
Fletchley? If so, he had just told Hagrid he had Transfiguration 
class next and I assume he was on his way there.

7.  Who sets the passwords to the common rooms?  Do you 
think the choice of passwords is important? Significant?  

Actually, I'm not sure who sets the passwords - I always 
assumed it was the heads of the various houses, but in PoA, 
after the Fat Lady's portrait is so badly damaged and Sir 
Cadogan temporarily put in her place, he spends `half his time 
thinking up challenging people to duels, and the rest thinking up 
ridiculously complicated passwords, which he changed at least 
twice a day.' 
Certainly some of the passwords are significant - in CoS, the 
new password for Slytherin is `pure-blood.' - but earlier in
CoS, the password for Gryffindor was `wattlebird', which
doesn't have any significance that I can think of (particularly
as the first thing it  brings to mind is a turkey -- a large bird
with wattles). And in PoA, one of Sir Cadogan's passwords is 
`Oddsbodikins', which merely sounds antiquated and 
nonsensical. But in PS/SS, the first password we hear for 
Gryffindor is `Caput Draconis,' which has something to do
with dragons (my Latin being pretty much nonexistent.) So I 
guess in conclusion I'd have to say some passwords are 
significant - and some ain't.