Snape on H&R and Lockhart (was Re: Snape's Patronus)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 160974

Sean-Michael wrote:
> > I believe that Snape et al didn't believe Lockhart knew where the
> > entrance was nor how to kill the monster and were going to let his
> > incompetance finally show itself clearly, but then the boys came
> > upon him as he prepared for his escape and took him at wandpoint to
> > check out their idea of where the chamber entrance was. I could be
> > off on some of that, but that's how I remember it
> 
JENNI added:
> I think you are right in that explanation. They were eavesdropping
and then just happened to catch Lockhart in the nick of time, and made
him come with them to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom to find the entrance
to the COS.
>
Carol responds:
It was, however, Snape's remarks to Lockhart ("the very man," etc.,
reminding Lockhart that it was his job to locate the Chamber of
Secrets and that the time had come), backed by similar remarks from
the other Heads of House, that prompted Ron to suggest going to
Lockhart (which Harry agreed to do because he felt the need to do
something). Whether Snape knew the boys were there or not (I think
not, but with Snape we can't know for sure), the boys would have done
nothing and Ginny would have died.

Here's the canon:

"Snape stepped forward. 'Just the man,' he said. 'The very man. A girl
has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Taken into the Chamber of
Secrets itself. Your moment has come at last" (CoS Am. ed. 294. 

These words are backed up by Sprout and Flitwick, after which Snape
says, "I certainly remember you saying were sorry you hadn't had a
crack at the monster at the moment before Hagrid was arrested. Didn't
you say that the whole affair had been bungled, and that you should
have been given free rein from the first?"

McGonagall, the assistant headmistress, picks up Snape's cue and makes
it official: "We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy. Tonight will be
an excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of your
way. You'll be able to tackle the monster yourself. A free rein at
last" (294).

Of course, Lockhart is being hoist with his own petard, forced to do
his job or leave the school, and the DADA curse begins to fall into
place. McGonagall sees it as merely getting Lockhart out from under
their feet, but she doesn't know that Harry and Ron are eavesdropping
in the wardrobe.

After sitting in the common room feeling miserable for awhile, Ron
starts talking about why he thinks Ginny was taken into the CoS
despite being a pureblood, and finally says, "I think we should go and
see Lockhart. Tell him what we know. He's going to try and get into
the Chamber. We can tell him where we think it is, and tell him it's a
basilisk in there."

Harry, who can't think of anything else to do but wants to do
something, agrees to this plan (295-96).

So if it hadn't been for Snape confronting Lockhart, McGonagall
wouldn't have given Lockhart "free rein" to enter the Chamber that
evening, the boys wouldn't have gone to see him, and Ginny would have
died.

Carol, not sure that Snape intended this outcome but still crediting
him with (unwittingly?) inspiring Ron's suggestion to go to Lockhart,
thereby setting the events leading to Ginny's rescue in motion