Inferi (was Re: CHAPDISC: HBP21, The Unknowable Room

[quick_silver71]

No: HPFGUIDX 158825

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at ...> 
wrote:
<cut>
> Potioncat:
<cut>
> Seamus asks Snape a question about Inferi--although they are 
studying 
> Dementors. Snape mentions Mundungus, and brings up the difference 
> between ghosts and Inferi. He says twice-- and I think it's 
repeated 
> twice by a student-- that ghosts are transparent. Why do you think 
> Snape is so insistant that the students understand that 
difference? 
> 
> The Inferi we saw at the cave were obviously animated dead bodies, 
and 
> nothing like the ghosts we've seen. Do you think an Inferius could 
be 
> enchanted to appear more like it had in life? So that perhaps 
someone 
> might be tricked into thinking an Inferius was a ghost? 

Quick_Silver:
Actually it's Harry who first brings up the fact that ghosts are 
transparent not Snape. Snape then proceeds to mention it twice in 
what, as I read it at least, reads as a mocking voice.

The impression I got from that scene was that it was meant to 
highlight the subtle differences between Harry and Snape on their 
understanding of Defense against the Dark Arts. Harry states the 
simplest difference between ghosts and Inferius, that ghost's are 
transparent, whereas Snape states a more "intellectual" answer that 
includes the definitions of ghost and Inferius.

It's interesting that after giving the answer that ghosts are 
transparent and 'apparently' being mocked by Snape for it Harry 
actually states the reasons why he gave that answer. I don't think 
we ever read of Harry doing something like that in Snape's potions 
classes. So it highlights the fact that there's been a shift in the 
classroom dynamics of the feud between Snape and Harry...Snape is 
now challenging Harry in a class that Harry is good at.

Quick_Silver (who believes that Snape was an excellent DANA 
teacher...for every student except Harry)