CHAP DISC, HBP 25, The Seer Overheard

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 161734

Potioncat:
Very good summary, Alla and great questions. I'm only answering ones 
that I think I have something to add. Others have already given 
wonderful answers. 
> 
> 
> 3.	Why does Dumbledore want fewer visits from professor 
> Trelawney?
Potioncat:
I think she has been getting very close with her predictions. DD does 
not want to be influenced by Divination. Look what kind of trouble it 
caused once before! Although he doesn't think much of Divination, he 
could still be swayed and he wants to avoid that. Also, with so much 
on his mind, I'm sure he's tired of Trelaney's 'doom and gloom.'

> 
> 4.	The card that Trelawney pulls and reads to Harry correctly 
> predicts what will happen soon. Did that cause you to change your 
> opinion of Trelawney's prediction powers, card reading and other 
> Seer abilities for the better? If not, why not?

Potioncat:
I've thought all along that part of her problem was in 
interpretation. Yeah, she's made some wild off the wall predictions, 
but she's also come very, very close a few times. In fact, I think 
some of her 'wrong' statements during Divination class will turn out 
to have more truth in them than we realized.

> 
> 5.How did Trelawney know that Snape 
> was looking for a job at the time? Alla imagines Snape and 
> Trelawney's evening tea conversations.

Potioncat:
Me too to what Ceridwin said. There are so many possibilities. 

Trelawney could be very wrong about it---Isn't that funny, she can't 
interpret the past any better than she does the future? But I think 
Snape was already seeking a job at at LV's request and I think she 
was correct. 

But, look at this again (Pulling quote from summary):

>>> Well, after that, you know, Dumbledore seemed much more dis­posed 
>to give me a job, and I could not help thinking, Harry, that it was 
> because he appreciated the stark contrast between my own unassuming 
> manners and quiet talent, compared to the pushing, thrusting young 
> man who was prepared to listen at keyholes - Harry, dear?' 

Potioncat continues:
Does she not remember that the "pushing, thrusting young man" will go 
on to become Professor Snape? Oh dear, no good at future, past or 
present, is she? First she says he was waffling, then she says he was 
pushing. Which was it? This memory seems very cloudy.

She brings up the contrast between herself and Snape. Which one is 
the better teacher...oh, never mind, been there, done that ;-)
 
> 
> 7.	"Dumbledore did not speak for a moment; he looked as though 
> he was trying to make up his mind about something. At last he 
> said, 'I am sure. I trust Severus Snape completely.'" What was 
> Dumbledore trying to make up his mind about?

Potioncat:
DDM!Snape-Potioncat thinks DD was considering telling Harry more. 
OMG*he'sESE!Snape-Potioncat thinks there is some sort of magic 
preventing DD from speaking, and that he was trying to overcome that 
magic.(Quick, get JustCarol!)

In a few moments,DD will send Harry for his IC. We've wondered before 
why he did that. Harry was told to keep it with it all the time and 
in fact, he does have it. I wonder if DD used the 5 minutes to put 
aside a memory about Snape for Harry's use. You know, just in case DD 
doesn't make it back. He could have thought Harry would use the time 
to say his own goodbyes, and would not quibble about having the IC 
with him.


> 
> 8.	"'He hated my dad like he hated Sirius! Haven't you noticed, 
> Professor, how the people Snape hates tend to end up dead?'" We 
also 
> know so far that people whom Harry loves tend to end up dead and 
> some of the names on the list of people whom Snape hates and Harry 
> loves tend to be the same. If you were to predict the next person 
to 
> die by that criteria, whom would you pick?

Potioncat:
Oh, no...I would never do that! 
> 
> 9.<snip> Harry is trying to restrain himself from knocking things 
>over. Is it  because he has undergone some character development and 
>is trying to control his temper, or is he simply afraid that 
>Dumbledore will not let him come? Any other ideas?

Potioncat:
Yes, to both questions. We will see this sort of effort in book 7 
when he works hard to shut his mouth and close his mind.

> 
> 10.	"'You're leaving the school tonight and I'll bet you haven't 
> even considered that Snape and Malfoy might decide to -' To what?' 
> asked Dumbledore, his eyebrows raised. 'What is it that you suspect 
> them of doing, precisely?'"  Why is Dumbledore asking Harry this 
> question?

Potioncat:
Harry's answer is: 'I ... they're up to something!' said Harry and 
his hands curled into fists as he said it.

Now, who does that sound like? I think DD and Snape have had very 
similar conversations. In fact, the over-heard conversation between 
Snape and DD may have concerned the safety of the school during DD's 
jaunts.



> 11.	 `Thanks,' said Ron. 'Er - why do I need socks?'  Here we 
> meet socks again. In fact, we have attempted to figure out possible 
> socks symbolism in the books for quite some time now. So, is there 
> any possible symbolic reason why Harry gives Felix felicis to Ron 
> wrapped in sock?

Potioncat:
I just don't know what's going to come of socks. Someone has already 
said they represent comfort. I suspect we may never know. Whether in 
this case, Ron's question provided a bit of comedic relief, or if JKR 
was making sure we saw the socks, I couldn't say.

I will, of course, make sure everyone in my family gets socks for 
Christmas.

Potioncat, thanking Alla for a great Discussion.