Chamber of Secrets and Snake err.... Snape

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 148057

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Karen <kchuplis at ...> wrote:
>
> OK, at the dueling club meeting Snape whispers something to Malfoy  
> they are just supposed to be disarming. On the count of two instead 
> of when 3, Malfoy throws the serpensatia spell creating the snake. 
> What was it Snape whispered to Malfoy? Do you think he gave him the 
> spell? Why? It certainly revealed a lot about HP to him. If he is ESE!
> Snape, that would be a juicy tidbit for the Dark Lord. Just 
> interesting that that "whisper" was deliberately inserted by the 
> author. Red herring? Maybe.

Geoff:
Just to be absolutely and irritatingly pedantic at 7.41 in the morning: 
in the duelling club scene, Malfoy casts his first curse on the count 
of two and we do not know which curse he uses. The "Serpensortia" spell 
was cast correctly, time wise.

'Harry and Malfoy barely inclined their heads, not taking their eyes 
off each other.
"Wands at the ready!" shouted Malfoy. "When I count to three, cast your 
charms to disarm your opponent - only to disarm them - we don't want 
any accidents. One... two... three..."
Harry swung his wand over his shoulder but Malfoy had already started 
on 'two': his spell hit Harry so hard he felt as if he'd been hit over 
the head with a saucepan.'
(COS "THe Duelling Club" p.143 UK edition)

'Lockhart cuffed Harry merrily on the shoulder. "Just do what I did, 
Harry."
"What, drop my wand?"
But Lockhart wasn't listening.
"Three - two - one - go!" he shouted.
Malfoy raised his wand quickly and bellowed, "Serpensortia!"'
(ibid. p.145)

At least this time, he wasn't jumping the gun - I think he didn't have 
time to....