Family ties.

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 117241


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at m...> wrote:
> 
> Potioncat:
> I disagree...ouch, ouch (hitting my head with lamp)
> From chapter 18, CoS:
> "You can speak Parseltongue,Harry because Lord Voldemort ...can 
> speak Parseltongue.  Unless I'm much mistaken, he transferred some 
> of his own powers to you the night he gave you that scar." 
> 
> yada yada
> 
> "You happen to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his 
> hand-picked students.  His very own rare gift, Parseltongue--
> resourcefulness--determination--a certain disregard for rules..."
> 
> LV transferred some power(s) but the only one DD mentions is 
> Parseltongue.  He mentions it at least 3 times.  It's a pain to 
> type, JKR must have had good reason to use it
>

Kneasy:
But there's a bit you missed out:
"Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?" Harry said, thunderstruck.
"It certainly seems so."
That, combined with listing the qualities prized by Slytherin with no 
indication that these weren't also passed across at the same time.
Powers are different. There's only one we know of so  far (Parseltongue)
though  DD does say that powers (plural) were transferred.

Now others may disagree, but I  reckon "...a bit of Voldemort.." is not
the same thing as "Voldemort's powers." I think  the former phrase
was used very deliberately.

Powers per se are not a problem, they  can be used without  hazard
to the recipient (so long as he can control  them). But a bit of Voldy
is a different cauldron of toads; it implies much more than just being
able to  cast an unusual spell or two. IMO it's what allows the link,
often at  considerable distances, much further than shown between any
other pair, between Harry and Voldy. The Dark Mark calls his disciples;
but it doesn't affect their minds, only their arms.
Voldy can stroll round Harry's mind because he has a foothold there 
already.
Part of Harry's mind *is* part of Voldy. 


> 
> Potioncat:
> I can't link the information...as I'm not using my own wand and do 
> not get quite the same results...but JKR's discussion of Snape's 
> backgroud seemed to be saying that he isn't exactly pure-blood.
> 
> Only now I can't remember if this was from the last question/answer 
> session or from her own site.
> 
> She says only in rare cases would a Muggleborn enter into Slytherin 
> says something about that being a hint...Oh, I hate it when people 
> don't quote exactly!  Can anyone help here?  JKR never comes out a 
> gives a real answer of course.
> 

Kneasy:
Pureblood is different to Muggle born is different to mudblood.
Sometimes labels are useful, sometimes they restrict. 
Two or three generations back and a dalliance with a Muggle milkman
ruins a pureblood pedigree. But that wouldn't make the later descendents 
Muggleborn. Far enough back and it'd be difficult to call them mudblood.
Harry isn't Muggleborn - but he was thought suitable for Slytherin, even
though Lily came from Muggles (we think).

No; I'm convinced that whatever Snape's motivation is for swapping
sides (and most agree that there must be a strong one) I  reckon it's
*personal*, something to do with family. It's not such a giant leap to
wonder if his family had interesting connections.