What's in it for Snape: A motive (now, summer assignments)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 97565

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "MsMeryMac at y..." <>  
> Sorry, Alla, no quote, but I would expect that books designed for 
> first year students would be very basic. Also, students would know 
> they are not allowed to practice magic outside of Hogwarts (wizard 
> parents know that, and Rowling said that special messangers are 
> sent 
> to muggle households to explain about Hogwarts) so they would 
> certainly *only* be reading. The summer before my freshman year of 
> high school (and every summer after) I received a list of four 
> books 
> that had to be read before the first day of class. (For those not 
> from the US, this would be American 9th grade, or about 14 years 
> old.)I went to a private school that was not an extension of my 
> grade school, so I read these books before receiving any kind of 
> instruction or before meeting any teachers, really. However, my 
> senior (last) year, we had to read a book by Faulkner that many 
> students didn't really get, so we read it again in class, under the 
> guidence of our teacher. 
> 
> I would imagine a similar situation at Hogwarts. Students could 
> read 
> about potion ingredients, but may not actually take in all the 
> knowledge until taught by another or used in a practical situation. 
> Everyone learns differently. Hermione appears to be able to learn 
> something by reading, whereas Harry is a more practical learner and 
> learns by doing.
> 
> Luckie


Well, I disagree. No matter how basic the books are, they are about 
magic. Something which many muggle-borns kids supposedly heard 
nothing about before they got a letter.

Can I also refer you to potioncat's message 99537, which I agree with?

Harry was curious enough to look at the books. I cannot imagine him 
not mention to the readers anything about assignments to be done.

We do read about the summer essays in the next books though.

Alla