Harry's scar and Snape (Was: A strange silver instrument)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 86464

Maus wrote:
> Actually I think Snape suspected Harry was a Parselmouth because he 
> used Occlumency on Harry his very first night at Hogwarts:
> 
><snip>
> It happened very suddenly. The hook-nosed teacher looked past 
> Quirrell's turban straight into Harry's eyes -- and a sharp, hot pain 
> shot across the scar on Harry's forehead.
><snip>
> 
> Of course, we are meant to think that Harry felt his scar hurt 
> because he looked directly at Quirrell's turban. <snip>
> 
> It's perhaps more likely then that it was Snape using Occlumency on 
> Harry that caused his scar to hurt. We know that direct eye-contact 
> is needed for Occlumency, and Harry was specifically disturbed by the 
> feeling he got from looking directly in Snape's eyes. The fact that 
> Snape using Occlumency on Harry caused Harry's scar to hurt seems to 
> indicate that Snape saw the part of Voldemort's mind buried inside 
> Harry's head. I
> -Maus

Sorry, Maus, but JKR herself has made clear that this scene is a
classic red herring. Instead of being meant to think that Harry felt
his scar hurt because he was looking at Quirrell's turban, we're meant
to think that Snape caused the pain. We can't possibly suspect
Quirrell's turban on a first reading because we have no idea that
Voldemort is inside. Instead we're set up to think that Snape is not
only a mean teacher but an evil agent of Voldemort. As we learn later,
however, only Voldemort, who caused the scar in the first place, can
cause the scar to hurt. Snape can't do it through occlumency or
legilmency or any other means any more than Uncle Vernon can.

Here's what JKR herself has to say to a question from a child reader
who thinks that "Snap" caused the pain (SB is the person reading the
questions):

SB: Why in the first book does Harry's lightening scar flash, or when
he gets his lightening scar flash, when Snap looks at him?

JKR: Snape.

SB: Snape.

JKR:. . . If anyone hasn't finished reading book one, would they
please put their fingers really tightly in their ears now, if they
don't want the ending ruined? Really tightly now, cause this is a
question about the ending. Um... Quirrell had the back of his head to
Harry at the point when Harry looked at Snape, so someone else was
looking at Harry through a certain turban. See what I mean? If you've
read it, you understand, and if you haven't read it, you're going
what? But that's okay. 

(Carol again):
In other words, the scar hurt because Voldemort was looking at Harry
through Quirrell's turban.

Here's a link to the whole article if you need it:

http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/quickquotes/articles/1999/1099-pressclubtransc.html

Carol