Serpensortia

[jklb66]

No: HPFGUIDX 35475

Previous posts were speculating that Snape's "shrewd and calculating 
look", after Harry spoke to the snake in "The Dueling Club" chapter 
of CoS, suggest that Snape suspected Harry was a parselmouth and had 
been testing him.  I've always read that look to mean that Snape was 
doing the exact same mental calculation that Ron and Hermione are 
doing at that moment.  

Heir of Slytherin on the loose + Harry is parselmouth = Everyone is 
going to suspect Harry is the Heir of Slytherin

The difference, of course, is that Snape will ENJOY Harry's 
discomfort when the whispering begins.  If Snape had been trying to 
prove Harry was a parselmouth, and had just succeeded, I would expect 
a different look.  Perhaps like the triumphant "gleam" he gets in PoA 
when he figures out that Harry's "old parchment" is directions into 
Hogsmeade.

So, why did Snape suggest "serpensortia" to Draco if not to test 
Harry?  Most of the curses, hexes, jinxes (whatever) that Draco 
probably knows will actually DO something  physical to Harry.  
(Examples: jelly-legs, furnunculus, tarantallegra, etc.) Kid stuff. 
But, as has been pointed out many times before, Snape prefers 
psychological torture over physical torture every time.  By telling 
Draco to conjure a dangerous snake right in front of Harry, Snape 
hopes to get the immense pleasure of watching Hary be terrorized. 
IMO, the idea that Snape has done this so he can enjoy seeing Harry 
frightened, seems reinforced by, 

"'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...'"

Not only is Snape enjoying the sight, but he is letting Harry know 
that he, Snape, is in control of how long the terror will last-- more 
psychological torture. 

Last question, how did Snape know that Draco could 
do "serpensortia"?  Maybe it was always one of Lucius's favorites!  
Although I like the ideas that it is a Slytherin favorite, or that 
Snape taught it to Draco just as much.