GoF CH 27-29 Post DH look

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 182126

 
> Alla:
> 
> Yes, I reread the scene very carefully two days ago and still did
not find any indications in it that Snape knew that Dumbledore was coming.
> 
> And we know one thing at least for sure - there is no legilimency
from the distance, so Dumbledore could not tell him that he is coming.
> 
> I mean, I cannot exclude the possibility that Snape had known of 
> course, but since I do not see how, I am  continuing to think that
he did not.

Potioncat:
But Snape didn't need Legilimency. He had just left DD, and I think he
had instructions to detain Harry. Later in GoF, Harry will view some
of DD's memories with DD. One of them is is Snape saying that his mark
is getting darker. I think that conversation was concluding just as
Harry began screaming at the entrance to the headmaster's office.
(Can't prove it, but it fits.)

Here's the material with a little snipping:

***Harry yells at the entrance to the headmaster's office. The doors
don't open. 
"He started running as fast as he could toward the staircase--
"POTTER!"
Harry skidded to a halt and looked around. Snape had just emerged from
the hidden staircase behind the stone gargoyle. ...
"What are you doing here,  Potter?" (he beckons to Potter)
yada yada
"The headmaster is busy, Potter."
...
The stone wall behind Snape slid open. DD was standing there...***

So, I think Snape and DD were talking, possibly while DD used his
Pensieve, and they heard Harry yelling. DD sent Snape down to detain
Harry while DD collected his thoughts. Then he joined them. 

Snape actually calls Harry back to the entrance of DD's office.
He stands there and talks to him. Look what he doesn't do: he doesn't
allow Harry to leave the area where DD is, nor does he take Harry away
from DD.

DD comes down and asks what is going on. The yelling has long since
stopped. (well, not long, but it has stopped.) DD seems to be
expecting Harry to be there.

Harry and DD leave, Snape remains standing by the gargoyle, looking
twice as ugly--no indication that he is taken aback by DD's response
to Harry. It looks planned to me.

Had Snape allowed Harry to leave, it would have taken even longer for
Harry to find DD. I think DD may have had to complete something before
he spoke with Harry. Now, had it been McGonagall who had been with DD,
I'm sure the passage would have read differently, but I bet there
would still be a pause before Harry met with DD.

If Snape really wanted to keep Harry from DD--that is--if they hadn't
known Harry was there---Snape could have let him go, or could have
escorted him away. 

If DD was able to speak to Harry and had indicated that to Snape,
Snape would be a fool to delay him. So it just makes sense to me, that
Snape was holding him there for DD. Of course, he could have said,
"The headmaster will down as quickly as possible, Potter" but what
would be the fun in that?

>In post 182121 Carol signed off
> Carol, who agrees that Snape was giving Harry a hard time but
believes that there was a method in his teasing (we know where his
loyalties lie, after all)

Potioncat:
Teasing? as in Fred and George?

The word "teasing" works perfectly here, but isn't a word I would have
associated with Snape.

Teasing, as in a cat teasing a mouse. Oh, yeah. That works!