The evidence for knowledge of the Basilisk WAS Re: What's annoying about Harry

[bluesqueak <pipdowns@etchells0.demon.co.uk>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51410

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Tom Wall <thomasmwall at y...>" 
<thomasmwall at y...> wrote:
 
> and Grey Wolf wrote:
> There are many things that are never spelled out in the books, and 
> nevertheless can be inferred without making big leaps of faith. 
> 
> I (Tom) reply:
> Yes, they can be inferred. But since an inference is not in canon, 
> an inference doesn't hold. Unless you can support your inference 
> with canon, which you're not doing. Canon does not tell us that  
> Dumbledore knew it was a basilisk. Period.

> -Tom

Well, as my fellow MDDT members point out, if you don't accept 
inferences *from* canon, you are going to have a series of awfully 
short posts... [grin]. Half the theories on the list are made by 
inference. One of the most popular shipping theories, 'Snape loves 
Lily' [LOLLIPOPS], relies ENTIRELY on what is NOT mentioned in canon.
On Snape not mentioning Lily, in fact. Ever.

But, you want some canon that Snape at least had reason to suspect a 
Basilisk? OK.

CoS, UK paperback, Ch.11, pp. 145 to 146. Snape suggests to Malfoy 
that he uses the Serpensortia curse. Harry, as a result, displays 
his Parselmouth abilities. Snape gives him a look Harry doesn't 
like: 'shrewd and calculating'.

Of course, that could be complete coincidence. Snape could have no 
reason whatsoever for making sure that Harry has a curse flung at 
him which tests his ability to control snakes. 

But that 'shrewd and calculating look' suggests Snape is not 
*scared* of Harry's ability (like the students, who are frightened). 
He's working out that Harry can either a) control the basilisk, or b)
can hear it.

Either of which would explain why Harry was on-the-spot when Filch's 
cat was Petrified. Which (canon tells us), as Snape realised 
perfectly, was an extremely peculiar place for the Trio to be [CoS, 
Ch.9, p.109].

So, Snape realised that it was strange the Trio should be on the 
spot when Filch's cat was petrified, and then later tests Harry's 
abilities with snakes.

Still think there's no evidence the teachers didn't *know* the 
monster was probably a Basilisk?

Pip!Squeak