Let's hear it for good old Snapey!

[Talisman]

No: HPFGUIDX 87907

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jwcpgh" <jwcpgh at y...> Laura 
wrote:
<snip> 
> I do think he [Snape]was letting everyone know where Harry stood 
in his estimation.  Whether that was due to genuine dislike, the 
exigencies of the spying game or both, it served its purpose.  If 
Harry had been able to answer the questions, Snape would just have 
kept at him until there was one he couldn't answer. 

Talisman, dropping by and plunking a stack of golden Galleons on the 
counter, 

I don't agree that humiliation was the primary goal.

If anyone is up for a wager, I'm betting that knowledge of the 
Draught of Living Death; the use of the bezoar as a poison antidote; 
and, the ability to identify Wolfsbane, by any other name (SS 138); 
will become critical to Harry before the final denouement. 

Instead of being dependent on Hermione's notes, Harry will have 
vivid recall of this information--just when he needs it--thanks to 
this stressful little scene.

Some of my considerations are: my overall assessment of Snape's 
motives; my hunch that some strategic death-faking could come in 
handy; the probability that the Malfoy's haven't sold all of 
those "embarrassing" poisons they stash in their secret chamber(CoS 
51), and the fact that there are werewolves about--whether you 
expect to use Aconite in the fight against ESE ones(that's for 
Pippin), or recognize it in order to keep the nice ones safe. 

Not essential, but icing on the cake, is the dreaded Movie 
Contamination of the Potion Master scene in SS.  You probably 
remember that JKR told us she gave Rickman inside info so he would 
know how to play his character.  Well, in the movie, Snape pulls a 
chair up to Harry's desk, sits down in it, and locks Harry in an 
occular half-nelson, while downloading all the pertinent information 
in a rather earnest and intense manner. 

Yep, I'm betting there was a method to that nastiness. 

Talisman,
Looking for takers--unless your name is Bagman or you're carrying 
Leprechaun gold.