[HPforGrownups] Re: What's in it for Snape? Finding motive...

[MadameSSnape at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 97501

In a message dated 5/2/2004 12:22:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
dumbledore11214 at yahoo.com writes:
Could you please, please provide a quote? I am under very stron 
assumption that there were no assignments yet before they started 
Hogwarts. Why would it be? I would say that at least Muggle-born 
children are not expected to know anything about magic yet.

Hermione is an exception, of course. :o) I would think that teachers 
would want to provide some guidance before assigning ANY reading to 
the first years.
==========================

Sherrie here:

The relevant portion here is, I believe, this one (PS ch. 8, "The Potions 
Master", UK paper ed., p. 102 bottom):

        "Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go 
without her leaving her seat, but Harry didn't have the faintest idea what a 
bezoar was.  He tried not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, who were shaking 
with laughter.
        " 'I don't know, sir.'
        " 'Though you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?' "

IMHO, Snape DOES expect the students to have read their textbooks prior to 
the beginning of the term - after all, they get their booklists at least a month 
before school begins.  Why send them THAT early to Diagon Alley, if NOT so 
the little prats can get a jump start on their schoolwork - especially the 
Muggleborns?

I've not read PS/SS for a while, so I can't recall whether any other teachers 
comment on pre-term preparation - but obviously Snape DOES expect it.

Sherrie
"Unless history lives in our present, it has no future." 
PRESERVE OUR CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]