Snape and DD as a team

Tonks tonks_op at yahoo.com
Thu Jan 27 21:06:05 UTC 2005


No: HPFGUIDX 123222


Rereading the second book I came across a scene where Snape and DD 
are working as a team and using Legilmency.  

CS. p. 143-144.  The handwriting on the wall and Mrs. Norris have 
been discovered.  DD takes Filch, the cat, Harry, Ron, Hermione to 
Lockhart's office. Lockhart comes along with McGonagall and Snape.
After DD determines that Mrs. Norris has been petrified, Snape 
questions Harry. After the questioning Snape's say "I suggest, 
Headmaster, that Potter is not being entirely truthful" and then 
goes on to suggest taking Quidditch away from him as punishment 
until he is ready to be honest.  There is an exchange about 
Quidditch between Snape and McGonagall while we hardly notice that 
what DD does.  "DD was giving Harry a searching look. His twinkling 
light-blue gaze made Harry feel as thought he were being X-
rayed."  "Innocent until proven guilty, Severus", he said firmly. 
And then we all move on to Snape and Filch both looking furious. 
Snape probably because he wanted to take Quidditch from Harry, and 
Filch because he wanted someone punished for his cat.

What are we really seeing here? I suggest that we see Legilmenes at 
work in both SS and DD. And the communication between them is very 
subtle.  SS tells DD I have looked in the boy and he in not telling 
the truth, there is something he is not telling us.  DD understands 
and takes a look into Harry too.  He looks and sees that Harry is 
innocent of the charges, and maybe he sees more but doesn't say. His 
comment to Snape really says "Yes SS I see that he is telling us a 
story, but he is not guilty himself, and that is all we can say here 
in front of Filch and Lockhart. 

I think that there are other times as well when Snape and DD work 
together and Snape for DD.  They don't jump out at us and we do not 
realize what we are seeing because it is very subtle.  Just like an 
old married couple or 2 friends that have been together for years 
can know what the other is implying by just a word or two.

Tonks_op










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