Snape's textbook and Narcissa's tears

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 133915

"Ersatz Harry" wrote:
> Was this the real reason that
> Slughorn was brought back?  Let's see, says DD, Harry won't take
> Potions any more if he got too low an OWL, therefore he won't have
> bought the text, therefore my putting Slughorn in will get Harry to
> take the class without a text and will create an excuse to put Snape's
> old text in his hands.  Feels like a bit much.  Any thoughts?

zgirnius replies:
I agree that it seems ridiculous that Snape was made DADA Master and 
replaced by Slughorn at Potions just so Harry could get the book. Or 
even, just so Harry could continue in Potions. (Having McGonagall 
arrange proivate tutoring would seem a simplker way to preceed if that 
is very important for sonme as yet unrevealed resaon...) I assume you 
have read at least some of the very numerous Snape threads with the 
various theories regarding long-laid plans of DD and Snape. If we 
assume that for whatever reason DD expected Snape to leave the school 
at the end of the Book 6 school year, *this* would be a reason to give 
him DADA. Snape has alwasy wanted it, but DD had refused in order to 
keep him around (the DADA position is cursed, as we learn...) Note that 
it is not necessary to believe Snape is good to accept such a theory. 
DD could have had a plan not involving his own murder by Snape which 
would require Snape to leave the school. Maybe he hoped Snape would be 
of use in ferreting out the locations fo other Horcruxes or someting if 
he were in more regular contact with LV, as just one possible theory.

At any rate, then the book getting into Harry's hands would just be 
a "side benefit" to someone, as it were. A "good Snape" might hope the 
spells would help Harry learn better duelling skills, which still seem 
below the level of say, Snape himself. A "bad Snape" might hope to have 
a corrupting effect on Harry by tricking him into learning more Dark 
magic, perhaps? Lots of possible reasons, anyway.


Ersatz Harry again:
> (2) Way back in Chapter Two (Spinner's End), we have Narcissa Malfoy
> demonstrating behavior most unlike that of the typical DE, displaying
> what appears to have been real emotion -- love, we can say -- for son
> Draco.  Will there be some parallel between Lily's love for Harry and
> Narcissa's love for Draco that leads to a Draco redemption of some 
kind?

zgirnius:
I could see that, certainly Draco also seems not to be prime DE 
material. Although what I really want to know is, what is it with Cissy 
and Snape?! Why did she think he would try to help her? Why did he take 
the UV?? (more love?! Snape?)

I just really want to get my hands on Book 7 now...