What Dark Arts?

[Cathy Drolet]

No: HPFGUIDX 136700

> If Snape never created this curse, James would never learn it, 
right?
> 
> 
> JMO of course.
> 
> Alla.

a_svirn
>>Right. But then, since he took time to learn it and didn't hesitate 
to put it to use doesn't it mean that he "was into the dark arts" 
himself? 

CathyD now:
If you read through that scene, James doesn't use Sectumsempra.  He uses Levicorpus.  Is Levicorpus Dark Arts?  Hardly fits with what I think they would be. Sectumsempra does, though.  It's interesting that the spells James and Sirius use are all fairly benign, more for humiliation than real hurt: Expelliarmus, Impedimenta (which we know is only temporary), Scourgify, Levicorpus, Petrificus Totalus.  But Snape used a well controlled Sectumsempra, intended to inflict physical damage.

It was always interesting to me that the Death Eaters, apart from the one who got Hermione with the purple slash, used fairly benign spells against the kids, as well.  There *have* to be more potent spells around that Tarantallegra and Impedimenta.  Only Bellatrix uses anything potent when she Crucio'd Neville.  Whatever she used on Sirius (red light) wasn't Avada Kedavra.  A sunner to the chest and he fell through the veil.


Alla said:

>>I am trying to figure out why  Snape did not tell Dumbledore about 
that book of his, which Harry has and cannot find the answer except  -
Snape was saving his own skin.

CathyD now:
How do we know Snape didn't tell Dumbledore? I'm inclined to think Dumbledore does know...he knows pretty much everything that goes on with the school in general, and Harry, in particular.   We're not privvy to Snape/Dumbledore conversations, for the most part, as this is Harry's POV.  We mostly only hear other's conversations if Harry overhears them.  Snape told the staff, and Pansy Parkinson told everyone else that would listen, what Harry'd done to Malfoy. Harry had already received his detention from Snape and tounge-lashing from McGonagall.  Dumbledore isn't about to expel Harry for any reason, at this point, they were going Horcrux hunting.  


colebiancardi said:
>>I also think
that DD asked Snape to put that book in Slughorn's reserves, for
Harry.  As we know, Harry didn't expect to take advanced potions in
his 6th year, as Snape only wanted Outstanding students.  But since DD
got Slughorn, he knew that Harry could get back into that class.  He
didn't tell Harry about what Slughorn was teaching deliberatly, IMHO,
so that Harry would not buy the book and would be forced to get
Snape's book.  

Cathy again

That makes Puppetmaster!Dumbledore which I don't buy for a second.  Ron also didn't buy the book and very easily could have gotten Snape's book instead of Harry.  Unless you're saying Slug was in on the whole thing and gave Harry Snape's book intentionally....bragging him up as a potion-maker then only to pump up his ego and not because Slug actually thought Harry was good at potions?  

The problem is: Harry still isn't any good at potions...he can only follow a recipe if he has one, he still doesn't understand the theory, the "subtle science and exact art of potionmaking....the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensaring the senses."   This, I think, is what Snape was trying to tell Harry at the end of HBP with his "Blocked again, and again, and again, until you learn to shut your mouth and block your mind, Potter."  Not that Harry needs to learn Occlumency (he can't/won't, according to JKR) and Non-Verbal spells.  Those things will not work, in Harry's case, against LV.  Harry needs something else.  Something Snape has tried to teach him for five years...even giving him extra homework to show where and why he went wrong in a potion.  Time to clue in, Harry.

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