CHAPDISC: HBP24, Sectumsempra

[Hagrid]

No: HPFGUIDX 161301

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jen Reese" <stevejjen at ...> 
wrote:
>
> Carol:
> > I think we're supposed to be astounded by Snape's inventiveness 
as
> > a Healer as well as creator of this Dark spell ...
> > He keeps his head in a crisis, in contrast to Slughorn, who is
> > flustered and completely forgets about bezoars when Ron is 
> > poisoned.
> 
> Jen: And yet since most of us knew by that point Snape was the 
HBP, 
> we're also reminded he created the "Dark Magic" Sectumsempra to 
> begin with.  It's impossible for me to see only the Healer in this 
> scene and not the destructive person who would invent such a 
curse.  
> I didn't have time to elaborate earlier, but the reason I think 
the 
> healing spell symbolizes repentance is because Snape is both the 
> cause of destruction and the means for healing the wounds he helps 
> create.  ... it's the 
> larger issue of the kind of person who would invent that spell to 
> begin with, that's a crucial piece of information in HBP.  And 
this 
> scene is a pivotal one:  A combination of the boy Snape was and 
the 
> man he has become.  Harry only sees one side of Snape, the 
darkness, 
> and likely his point of view will be put to the test in the last 
> book.  I find it impossible to see only positive attributes about 
> Snape in this scene, though.
>
aussie now:
When and why did Snape invent this vicious curse? As a 5th year 
student, he used it's forerunner on James. In "Snape's worse 
Memory"(OOTP), while James was disarming Snape or inverting him, 
Snape drew blood with a curse that cut JP's cheek.

This would have been "Sect-*something" while "Sempra" is continual 
and on going of the wound he used against James in his 5th year.

When Snape accepted the challenge of going into the Shreiking Shack 
only to be saved by James, did he go in prepared with this curse - 
for enemies?
Aussie