First potions lesson/Harry getting special treatment

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 145954


> > Magpie  wrote: 
> > "I think the main point here that's getting lost here is that 
> > regardless of whether Harry could have done this, the point was  
> > that he wouldn't. 
> 
> Potioncat:
> Harry did read over his books. He had them for about a month before 
> school started. He and Hagrid went to Diagon Alley on July 31/Aug 1 
> and school started Sep 1/2. I don't think Snape expected Harry to 
> know the answers. Would he have been angry if Harry had? I'm not 
> sure. Maybe he would have shown the same calculating look he gave 
> Harry at the Parseltongue incident.
> 
> I've seen different comments, offering that Hermione had her books 
> longer. Do we have canon that says the children are notified on  
> their birthday? 

Valky:
It can be assumed, I think, but I don't fully recall it being
specifically confirmed but for a vague memory of an interview comment
JKR made on the subject.

OTOH we do have some canon that proves Hermione's interest in the
Wizard World was given freer reign for longer than Harry. For
instance, she has enjoyed the privilege of knowing more about Harry
than he knows himself, having read about him in three books before she
met him. Hermione's parents were/are simply far more supportive of her
magicalness than the Dursleys ever would be of Harry and that is plain
undisputable canon which clearly gives Hermione an advantage over
Harry in regards to knowledge of Wizard things.




Potioncat:
> Some readers think Snape is only a bitter man, 
> still carrying a grudge against James Potter. His only reason for 
> attacking Harry is that Harry is James's son; and he attacks him 
> although ignorant of Harry's true nature.
> 
> Other readers accept that Snape is a bitter man who still has a 
> grudge against James and the Marauders, but that he is fighting Lord 
> Voldemort and he has reasons to "test" Harry. His actions toward 
> Harry range from unpleasant to cruel with an occasional neutral 
> tossed in; but they are performed for a reason that have very little 
> to do with James. 

Valky:
In many respects I agree with this conclusion. It all goes directly to
the enigma of Snape and we clearly have different views amongst us on
that. :)

I do, however want to lodge my validation of what some here are saying
about this first potions lesson. It seems perfectly logical to me to
read Snape's actions here as intending some shrewd test of Harry's
abilities and knowledge, served with a dash of undercutting the
celebrity stigma that follows Harry around right out of his classroom
without further ado, and a hint of addressing the whole class with his
high standards. Letting some of his bitter feelings loose on Harry in
the process was clearly a tasty icing on what otherwise could be (and
I think probably is) an objective slice of reality cake.  

It is so logical an assumption, IMO, because it is almost precisely
what we are given by JKR in offpage comments about Snape that:
a. Dumbledore (the epitome of goodness) believes in learning about and
dealing with people like Snape. and b. Snape abuses his power, and is
a nasty man.

These comments 100% support a view that Snape's first potions class
was Snape abusing a position of authority for his own sadistic
pleasure, but underlying that, there was some discernable good in it,
whether it be in helping Harry to develop humility in a world that
can't get enough of his famous story, or in giving him a heads up on
what some think he might become, or whatever you like, (but I do think
those two are realistic options), I think the point of JKR's comment
about Dumbledore believing everyone should deal with the Snape's of
the world is that there was a perspective worth seeing in Snape, even
if we shouldn't overall think he's 'too nice'. 


Valky