Snape, Potions and DADA - Possible and Not

[someoneofsomeplace]

No: HPFGUIDX 126532



> Magda wrote:
> Okay, how about this suggestion:
> 
> Let's say Harry gets a really good mark on his Potions Owl.  Not a
> GREAT mark, but a good one.  But not enough to get into Potions 
based
> on Snape's standard of accepting only "O"-quality students.
> 
> Now we KNOW - because JKR says so - that Harry's not spending much
> time at Privet Drive this summer, in fact it will be his shortest
> stay yet (not a direct quote).
> 
> I suggest that Dumbledore will have Harry picked up at Privet Drive
> and brought to another location where he will learn Advanced 
Potions
> from this mysterious Felix What's-his-name so that he can prove 
that
> he can do the complicated stuff and thus have the equivalent of an
> "O".  I'm not sure you can re-write your OWL (or what would be the
> point of cramming for the one at the end of the previous year?) but
> since Snape has the final say in what level of student he takes, he
> can presumably make an exception for a student who can prove that
> he's moved his marks up through remedial lessons?
> 
> And who has a completely objective teacher in Felix WHN who can
> verify it - especially if FWHN was the Potions Teacher who taught
> Snape's generation at Hogwarts years ago?
> 
> I'm rather pleased with this theory; connects a few different dots
> not normally in each other's neighbourhood, explains the book 
covers
> we've seen, introduces a new character and gives Snape a setback. 
> And Harry gets into NEWT-level potions.
> 

John:
The problem is, we don't meet this Felix fellow (if he *is* a 
fellow) until Chapter 14 or something, and I doubt that we'll be 
spending 13 or more chapters at this Spinners End location. Just 
substitute *him* for someone else and you've got yourself a good 
theory going. 

I, too, feel that Harry will take remedial potions. He'll be in for 
some pretty hard work if he wants to get himslef up to scratch in 
that time; but maybe he will finally start to take his studies, esp. 
potions, seriously?

Personally, I think that book cover with the potions booklet could 
hold the key to Voldy's present disfigurement and near-immortality. 
The name of the author stems from the word libation, which means the 
pouring of a drink, particularly for some sort of god. Extra fodder 
for Snape-as-stopperer-of-death theorists, perhaps? We *will*, after 
all, find out quite a lot more about Voldy in this book.

Just a random, possibly incoherent, set of thoughts.

John, logging off to the blessed relief of all concerned, no doubt.