[HPforGrownups] Re: Let's hear it for good old Snapey!

[Amanda Geist]

No: HPFGUIDX 87921

Oooh, Talisman. Yes.

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

It probably didn't *hurt*--but my take on Snape is that he keeps his eyes on
the main goal so very much, that he really considers minor considerations
like individual feelings to be, well, minor. Whereas for most of the rest of
us (or them), they are where we *live* and very, very major.

> 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.

YES, to all of this, and especially that last, because it was that
interpretation that made me connect all that to realize Snape could well
have been warning Harry. In a very acid manner, to be sure, but how
*frustrating* to have the hope of the wizarding world show up to Hogwarts so
bloody *ignorant*! When one has devoted one's life to the cause of defeating
Voldemort, and then a key player in that effort shows up, and the level of
preparation in that player is absolute *nil*? I think Snape is very
frustrated by this realization, and Harry, even though it's not his own
fault, is in front of him and is the target of Snape's aggravation.

This also works in nicely with my theory that Snape must be very careful of
the memories and emotions he has of Harry, so as to be able to lie to
Voldemort, and so this is probably one of the only ways he can impart
information to Harry in any sort of memorable way.

~Amanda, whose gold coins are all chocolate this time of the year, and
rapidly being stolen by children