Veritaserum was Re: CHAPTER DISCUSSION: ch. 32 "Out of the Fire"

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 118461


Carol:
> As for Snape not deducing sooner that Harry had gone to the DoM, 
why
> would he? 

Jen: Because it is Snape's second full-time job to suspect Harry 
will skirt the rules, wiggle out of very tight spaces and get 
whatever he wants in the end. Since we don't know exactly when Snape 
contacted the Order, or how long it took Snape to figure out Harry & 
Co. were gone, I'm willing to give Snape the benefit of the doubt. 
But I find it highly surprising Snape would give *Harry* the benefit 
of the doubt in that situation! Why would Snape waver from his 
belief that Harry can turn even the most catastrophic situations to 
his advantage? 

And Snape knows better than anyone that Draco & Co., even with 
Umbridge on their side, are no match for Harry & Co.!! He may have 
contacted the Order immediately after leaving Umbridge's office, but 
in any other situation, Snape's very next move would be to monitor 
Harry. Why slack off at this truly pivotal moment? Does it take that 
long to communicate with the Order? Or perhaps there was something 
else Snape had to attend to during the time he was absent from the 
scene, somthing related to his mission. 

Carol:
He knew that Harry couldn't apparate from Hogwarts even if
> he knew how. He also knew that Harry didn't have access to his 
broom.
> He knew that Buckbeak was in Grimauld Place with Sirius. Maybe he
> thought about the Thestrals or the flying Ford Anglia at some point
> and realized that it was actually possible for Harry to act on his
> mistaken idea that Sirius was being tortured. Or he may have 
assumed
> that Harry had contacted Sirius and found out the truth.

Jen: Yes, it must be something like that which kept Snape from 
tailing Harry. Although why Snape trusts Harry will 'stay put' in 
this instance defies logic. It's easier for me to believe Snape was 
busy with other crucial tasks. But no task could be more important 
than keeping the Prodigal Son safe, could it ;)?

Jen, flippant but also truly perplexed by the actions of 
Dumbeldore's Second-In-Command here.