Snape and Quirrell (Was: Trial of Severus Snape)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 141341

Eggplant wrote:
<big snip>
> To the day he died I don't think Dumbledore ever knew Quirrell tried
to kill Harry at that game because Snape never told him. <big snip>

Carol responds:

It would have been very strange if Dumbledore had not heard some
version of the jinxed broom incident, which happened in front of
almost the whole school, and asked his chief staff members what they
knew about it.

Moreover, it's rather difficult to understand what Dumbledore means
when he says to Harry, "Professor Snape couldn't bear being in your
father's debt. . . . I do believe he worked so hard to protect you
this year because he felt that would make him and your father even"
(SS Am. ed. 300, ellipsis in original) unless he knows quite well that
Snape tried to save Harry from Quirrell's curse. (He probably also
knew Snape's reasons for wanting to referee the later Quidditch game
and how Snape had injured his leg since the words suggest a continued
effort, not a one-time effort, however significant.)
 
Note that the scene where Dumbledore and Harry are discussing Quirrell
is the first one in which Dumbledore says, "Professor Snape, Harry"
(299)--an interesting contrast to his description of Quirrell on the
same page ("full of hatred, greed, ambition, sharing his soul with
Voldemort"). One tried to murder Harry (twice); the other saved
Harry's life. It seems clear to me that Dumbledore knows it.

Didn't mean to go into so much detail as I think the quotation about
Snape's working hard to protect Harry that year is sufficient in
itself to refute the assertion that Snape didn't report this incident
to Dumbledore. IMO, the Quirrell is one reason why Dumbledore trusts
Snape and I see no reason to doubt that DD knows the whole story
(even, maybe, who set Snape's robes on fire).

Carol