Malfoy's Comment to Harry at the Ministry

[Matt]

No: HPFGUIDX 78488

--- slytherin_jenn asks:
> I've been trying to make some sense of this 
> ever since I first read OoP and nothing has 
> come to me yet. The scene right after the 
> ministry hearing where Malfoy is talking to 
> Fudge and Harry and Mr. Weasley see them, 
> Malfoy says (p. 154 US version) "quite 
> astonishing, the way you continue to wriggle 
> out of very tight holes....*snakelike*, in 
> fact(emphasis on snakelike by JKR)" I'm 
> wondering what this quote means & would love 
> to hear your comments.

I can't remember what I thought when I read it 
in context, but reading it here, it sounds like
a reference to Harry being a Parselmouth.
Remember that, at the time, the Ministry --
presumably with LM's blessing and support -- is 
actively encouraging all sorts of rumors to 
discredit Harry and DD.  Anything that subtly
reminds people of Harry's inauspicious talent
-- and perhaps also the dueling incident with 
Justin -- would help feed those rumors.  In fact,
doesn't just such an account make it into one of
the Daily Prophet stories that year, or am I
misattributing one of the stories recounted in
GF?

-- Matt