What's in it for Snape? Finding motive...

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 97487

 Potioncat:(snipping most of my original post)
So Snape tests Harry by asking difficult questions
 from the reading material he assigned. 

suzanne wrote:
> 
> Whoa, there. This incident happened on the very first day of 
Potions class
> in Harry's first year. Therefore, no reading assignments could 
possibly have
> been given yet.
> 

Potioncat again:
Well, I'm working without a copy of SS and I could certainly be wrong 
about this idea.  But I do recall Snape referring to "not opening the 
book"  I think someone else has provided the quote.

I'm not sure when I caught that phrase, but I remember being 
surprised there had already been assignments.  Although that's the 
way I understood it. I assumed the list of books included a reading 
list as well. In later books it's stated very clearly that there are 
homework assignments over the summer break.

Potioncat