Whoops! Re: CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 29, Career Advice

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 115849


> 
> > 3. After Harry turns, he hears a smashing sound.  Who or what 
> broke  the sample vial of potion?  Would Snape have broken it, 
given that Draco thinks Snape is teaching Harry remedial potions?  
Would  Draco  have broken it in front of Snape?  Could it have 
fallen by itself? 
> 
> Alla:
When I first  read this one, I for some reason thought that we are 
still talking  about the jar with cockroaches. Don't ask me, why. :O)
> 
> Yes, I definitely think that Snape broke it. I think that was his 
> petty attempt of revenge for Harry's looking into his pensieve. Do 
> you think that it fallen down by itself? I reread the paragraph 
and 
> could not see any indication of it.
> 
> What gets to me the most is Snape reaction, of course "His potion 
> sample lay in pieces on the floor and Snape was watching him with 
> the look of gloating pleasure" -OOP, p.661, paperback.
> 
> Tell me, does he have to enjoy Harry's humiliation THAT MUCH? This 
> is definitely one of my "Need to slap Snape, NOW" moments. :o)


Potioncat:
Well, as much wicked pleasure as readers have gotten from "Whoops!", 
something doesn't fit here.  It doesn't seem in character for Snape 
to break a vial in front of the entire class unless he was making a 
point. He might snarl about the potion and tell Potter not to 
bother, but purposely breaking it seems odd. Draco might have, and 
Snape wouldn't punish him.  Or it might have fallen.  

But you've given me a whole new idea!!!!!! Someone (sorry, I don't 
recall who. Was it you, Alla?) suggested that the jar of cockroaches 
wasn't thrown, but exploded much like Aunt Marge's glass.  What if 
the same thing happened to the vial?  Snape, still angry, is 
ignoring Harry.  Harry brings a nice looking sample to the desk and 
Snape's anger gets the better of him when he sees it. He's still 
seething and Harry has the nerve to do better than ever in Potions.  
Bang! Whoops!

It just seems that JKR had a reason for us to not know what happened.
Potioncat