A strange silver instrument

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 86448

> Annemehr wrote previously:
> > 
> > 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.
> snip

> Berit replied:
> 
> It's possible Dumbledore and Snape have had a conversation discussing 
> what sort of connection has been created between Voldie and Harry, 
> especially since we know Dumbledore already knows Voldie has marked 
> Harry as an "equal" according to the prophecy. But why would Snape 
> suspect this would include the ability to speak to snakes?

Annemehr:

Ah, but you snipped that part (or didn't you think it persuasive
enough?).  I thought it possible that DD had discussed  with Snape the
possibility of a transfer of LV's *powers* to Harry.  I also thought
DD must have either known or strongly suspected the monster was a
Basilisk which would be controlled by a *parselmouth,* and discussed
that with Snape also.  If these two things happened, Snape would have
a reason to wonder.

Berit:

 I think 
> Rowling has successfully led us off track in "disguising" how 
> extremely important parseltongue is as a clue. She used the main part 
> of the CoS book to go on in detail about snakes and purebloods and 
> Slytherin heirs. It was not just that "everyone" suspected Harry was 
> the Heir of Slytherin; Harry himself battled over and over in his 
> mind whether he should have been sorted into the Slytherin house... 
> And then Rowling finishes the book off by stating that Harry is 
> indeed a true Gryffindor, summoning Fawkes and Godric's sword like he 
> did. A good cover-up :-)
<snip>
> 
> Quote: "'You can speak parseltongue, Harry,' said Dumbledore 
> calmly, 'because Lord Voldemort - who is the last remaining ancestor 
> [descendant] of Salazar Slytherin - can speak Parseltongue.'" (CoS p. 
> 245 UK Edition).
> 
> Note how Dumbledore INSERTS that little "unnecessary" detail of 
> Voldie being the Heir of Slytherin to explain why Harry can speak to 
> snakes... 

Annemehr:

Why is that an "unnecessary" detail?  I assume he said it because he
was well aware that the students had been suspecting Harry of being
Slytherin's heir ever since the parseltongue incident (until Hermione
was petrified), and because Harry had just brought up the subject of
"strange likenesses" with Tom Riddle.  So DD told Harry that Riddle
was the *last remaining* descendent of SS, and that Harry was not a
parselmouth on his own but only because of receiving powers from
Voldemort.

I do think everything you've discussed and quoted can be consistent
with my view that Harry is a natural Gryffindor who has received extra
Slytherin qualities from Voldemort.

I think Harry's connection to Voldemort and thus to Salazar did come
from the time Voldemort tried to AK Harry.  Do you think something
different, or do you only think we are only too ready to forget about
those Slytherin qualities?


Berit:
He is not just saying Harry can speak parseltongue because 
> Voldemort accidentally transferred parselmouth to Harry which just 
> happened to be one of Voldie's powers.

Annemehr:
Actually, I think that is exactly what he *is* saying.

Berit:
 Voldie being able to speak 
> parseltongue is not just a lucky coincidence. He can speak 
> parseltongue BECAUSE he is a direct descendant of Salazar; in fact: 
> He's the Heir of Slytherin. Harry inheriting this rare gift is 
> extremely significant. The gift is invariably tied to Voldemort's 
> Slytherin heritage. Harry might be more "equal" to Voldie than he 
> likes to think... Harry speaking parseltongue connects him, through 
> Voldemort, directly to Salazar.

Annemehr:
Here I agree with you.  It is and will be very significant.

Berit:  
> 
> I still believe Snape knew what he was doing when he set a snake on 
> Harry :-) I think he "knows"... After all; Hogwarts was buzzing with 
> rumours as to who the Heir of Slytherin was and what the monster in 
> the secret chamber was; Snape's a smart guy :-).

Annemehr:
Well, all that depends on whether he had any reason to suspect Harry's
parseltongue ability existed.  In your previous post you asked how
that could be, since he couldn't have heard about the snake in the
zoo.  I gave one possible scenario, that he'd been discussing things
with Dumbledore.  Now, we all know how closed-mouthed Dumbledore is
(doesn't give out information until it's too late, someone said -
ha!), so it'd be very easy to believe Dumbeldore had told Snape
nothing.  Still, if he told anybody, I can believe it would have been
Snape.

And wasn't Hogwarts buzzing with "Harry the Heir" rumors only *after*
the dueling club episode?  So that wouldn't have helped Snape beforehand.

Annemehr