The "face-value" theory of PoA -- now with shiny acronym!

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 45376

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., GulPlum <hpfgu at p...> wrote:
> 
> I was nodding with enthusiastic agreement until I got to this bit:
> 
> >(I'm assuming that he [Snape], along with the other teachers, knows
about 
> >the Hermione's time-turner.)
> 

> As I think I previously pointed out, Dumbledore's "amusement"
doesn't 
> really make sense if Snape knows about the Time-Turner. As I see it, 
> Dumbledore is amused as they enter the Hospital Wing not because
Snape 
> knows how Harry did it, but because never in a month on Sundays
would Snape 
> be able to work out how Harry did it, *even if Dumbledore gives him
a 
> whacking great clue*! The only valid reason for Dumbeldore to be
amused at 
> that point (unless, as the M.D.ers would have it, the surface text
makes 
> him appear to be sadistic) is that Snape doesn't have a clue what's
going 
> on and has no grounds to be able to work it out.
> 
<snip alternate interpretation>
 
> Despite being very much a non-flag-waver, I'd be happy to display
your 
> PRESSURE COOKER in my kitchen if you'd accept the above provisos....
:-)
> 

One of the nice things about a PRESSURE COOKER is that you can cram a
lot of different stuff under its lid, so your proviso is perfectly
acceptable even if I don't agree with it.  Your interpretation is
certainly sensible and fits the known facts.

What I can't figure out, though, is how Snape and all the other
teachers could avoid knowing about the Time-turner, given that
Hermione is scheduled for conflicting classes. For example, we know
that Hermione has another class (Arithmancy, I think) against
Potions.  We also know that Potions is a required class (because
Neville tried to drop it and wasn't allowed).  So Professor Vector
must know perfectly well that Hermione should be in Potions during the
time she's in Arithmancy.  Other teachers must also be aware of
similar conflicts.  So unless we assume that no one in the staff room
ever, ever talks to Snape (and we know from CoS that he's on friendly
enough terms with the rest of the staff), I don't see how Snape could
avoid knowing it.

Under my interpretation, Dumbledore is amused when he drops the hint
to Snape because he knows Snape could've figured it out himself if he
was thinking clearly.  It's the amusement of a teacher giving a little
nudge to a brilliant but flustered student.  (He's also amused because
he knows that Fudge *won't* figure it out, and that for all his
blustering, Snape will get along with the program once he sees what's
what.)

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com