CHAPDISC: HBP24, Sectumsempra

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 161237

 
> a_svirn:
> Yes, I agree. Dumbledore also said that music is the most potent 
magic 
> or something to that effect. But I think that Snape's chanting is 
also 
> interesting because he's undoubtedly used some obscure and probably 
> ancient language. (I assume that Harry would have recognized Latin 
> even if he didn't understand the actual words.) Therefore it's likely 
> that Snape used something else. An ancient language for some ancient 
> magic?


Potioncat:
Wait a minute...are we agreeing or disagreeing ;-)

Here's the line about Snape's counter-curse  "muttering an incantation 
that sounded almost like song."

Nothing is said about what words he used, or if Harry even heard the 
words. (Wasn't nonverbal though.)

So, to me, the song-like incantation that Snape performed 3 times, 
seems very similar to a Phoenix song. And, again, we haven't seen 
anything else ever described as "like a song" in any of the classes or 
in any of the other healing episodes.

But yes, I'd think Snape, who invented spells, has a knowledge of 
ancient magic.