A strange silver instrument

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 86412


> Berit wrote: 
> 
> snip
> I won't speculate what this means, but from these clues I'm sure the 
> > silver instrument told Dumbledore more than we think it did. And I 
> > think it has something to do with Harry's connection to the 
> Slytherin 
> > house and its heir, Voldemort.
<snip>
> 
> Berit adds:
> 
<snip> 
> In the duelling scene in CoS, Snape deliberately forces Harry to 
> reveal he is a parselmouth. Why would Snape be so interested in 
> knowing this? And more importantly; why did he suspect Harry was one?

Annemehr:

If Snape did suspect Harry might be a parselmouth, it could be because
he'd been talking to Dumbledore about the scar connection between
Harry and Voldemort.

There was some discussion some time ago (without reaching much of a
conclusion) about whether Dumbledore knew that Slytherin's monster was
a basilisk all along.  When they found Mrs. Norris hanging all stiff,
he said "She has been Petrified.[...] But how, I cannot say." (CoS ch.
9) He didn't actually say he *didn't know,* did he, although that's
how a listener would normally take that statement.  If he didn't know,
I'm sure he must at least have been fairly certain of it.

A basilisk is commanded by a parselmouth.  Dumbledore's spies tell him
that Voldemort is in Albania; it can't be him.  But Harry has received
some of his powers through his scar; it seems to be something
Dumbledore knew or suspected all along and could easily have discussed
with Snape.

That's how it could be that Snape wanted to test Harry in that way. 
Perhaps there was some fear even then that Voldemort could be
possessing Harry, though it would have had to have been from a
distance.  Still, I'm not sure I find it very likely Snape would have
wanted to do it so publicly, even if it did make Harry's life
miserable for a while.

Berit:

> Obviosusly Snape's guess was right: CoS p.146 UK 
> Edition: "Snape too, was looking at Harry in an unexpected way: it 
> was a shrewd and calculating look..." Veeeery interesting :-)

Annemehr:

I'm not sure this means Snape suspected Harry ahead of time; he just
may have thought a snake would give Harry a scare and make him look
helpless in front of an audience.  The snake would have been a
naturally Slytherinly choice.  From this line, one could argue that
Snape was doing all his calculating *after* the fact and there was no
premeditation.

I seemed to have argued this from both sides!

Annemehr
firmly on the fence