Chamber of Secrets and Snake err.... Snape

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 148076

Karen wrote:
> 
> However, Snape does whisper to Malfoy right before he casts the 
>serpensortia curse:
> 
> Snape moved closer to Malfoy, bent down, and whispered something in 
>his ear. Malfoy smirked, too. Harry looked up nervously at Lockhart 
>and said, "Professor, could you show me that blocking thing again?"
>snip<

Potioncat:
A long time ago this group discussed the Snape-Malfoy relationship. 
How did Snape know Malfoy knew the spell? Did Snape teach Malfoy? 
Does Snape teach the Slytherins spells in general? Now I see this 
scene with the first HBP-DADA class in mind.

Harry doesn't know how to duel and has Lockhart as a teacher. He's 
facing a nasty oponent who has Snape for a teacher. (Had it been me, 
I would have said, "Forget this club," and run away.) A snake appears 
and Harry has to react. 

He reacts much the way he will need to for DADA. He is resourceful 
and while he cannot work a counterspell, he can control the result of 
Malfoy's spell. I think Snape learned two things about Harry's 
abilities that day: his resourcefulness and his being a Parselmouth.