Sectumsempra - have we seen it already?

[spotsgal]

No: HPFGUIDX 136656

Holly:
> Basically I'm just wondering if we haven't seen Sectumsempra 
> before...
> . the cannon is being prepared but I would like to explain that
this 
> is partly in response to a number of posts asking how Harry was
able 
> to cast the spell correctly the first time when he didn't know the 
> correct "swish and flick" movement as well as the word

Christina:
I agree that we've seen Sectumsempra before, but I think it's a bit
earlier in OotP 

(pg 647, Am. Ed.)
But too late; Snape had directed his wand straight at James; there was
a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James's face,
spattering his robes with blood.
(end quote)

I don't think that there was a specific "swish and flick" motion
associated with this spell.  I think it's more like a sword-- the way
you move your wand when you say the spell determines how the spell
with cut through its victim.

Holly:
> Cannon (from UK childrens editions):
> 
> OOTP Bottom of Pg 698
> "Silencio" cried Hermione and the man's voice was extinguished. He 
> continuied to mouth through the hole in his mask, but no sound came 
> out. He was thrust aside by his fellow death eater (...) "Well done 
> Ha--" But the death eater Hermione had just struck dumb made a
sudden 
> slashing movement with his wand; a streak of what looked like
purple 
> flame passed across Hermione's chest. She gave a tiny "Oh!" as
though 
> of surprise and crumpled on to the floor, where she lay motionless"

Christina:
I have gone through the books again and again and as far as I know,
this is the first and only mention of any spell producing purple light
(curious, isn't it?).  Even if Snape did use Sectumsempra on James
(like I suggested above), we aren't told the color of the flash of
light (which could have very well been purple, lending some evidence
to what you're saying about Hermione's injuries).


Holly:
> HBP:
> Very top of Pg489
> "SECTUMSEMPRA!" bellowed Harry from the floor, waving his wand
wildly.
> Blood spurted from Malfoy's face and chest as though he had been 
> slashed with an invisable sword"
> 
> Ok so why am I thinking anything here, a number of things:
> 
> Both are slashing/cutting injuries for a start even though one is 
> chest only and one is face and chest but this can be explained
> because Dolohov made a (i.e. ONE) "slashing movement", he slashed 
> across Hermione's chest. Harry "waved his wand wildly" hence he had 
> the correct motion (the "swish and flick") and got not only Malfoy's
> chest but face as well.


Christina:
I sort of agree.  Like I said above, I don't think there was a
specific wand movement for the spell (citing the same passage you
did).  Malfoy got slashed throughout his chest *and* face because
Harry was "wildly" waving his wand.  I think of it as the difference
between a single thrust of a sword and somebody wildly and blinding
thrashing a sword about--obviously, the second scenerio will do much
more damage.


>  I do not 
> remember any talk of her having an open wound 

Christina:
I can't find anything about her having an open wound either, which
doesn't necessarily mean that she didn't, but I would think Harry
would have taken notice if Hermione was bleeding.  If she had been
bleeding (from somewhere as serious as her chest), I think Harry or
Neville would have tried to do something to stop the bleeding. 
Also....

(OotP, Am. Ed., page 793)
"Whaddid he do to her?" said Neville, crawling out from under the desk
again to kneel at her other side, blood streaming from his rapidly
swelling nose.
(end quote)

First of all, it's noted that Neville is bleeding (a fact that's
actually mentioned a few times).  Also, I don't think Neville would
have asked what the DE had done to Hermione if the spell had been
Sectumsempra (I think the blood would essentially have answered his
question).  However, like you said, if the power of the spell was
diminished by the DE's lack of a voice, maybe it really was
Sectumsempra and just didn't break her skin?


Christina
Who really, really wants to know what the purple-flashed spell was