Snape's class (was Re: HBP chapters 21-23 post DH look

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 184400

Alla wrote:
<snip>
> When I read the question asked by Seamus and then as restated by 
Snape, I do not see  that at all.
>  
> "Sir," said Seamus, "I've been wondering, how do you tell the 
difference between the Inferi and Ghost?" . . . .
> 
> "But Potter seems to have a lot to say on the subject," said Snape,
pointing suddenly at the back of the room, his black eyes fixed on 
Harry. "Let us ask Potter how we would tell the difference between an
Inferius and [a] ghost."  - p.439
> 
> Alla:
> 
> I do not see the word "state" anywhere in there.

Carol responds:
True. But if you were asked the question (and had been around ghosts
as much as Harry has, wouldn't you have been able to come up with
something better than, "Ghosts are transparent?"

For example, if I were Harry, I would have said something like, "To
begin with, sir, Inferi are dead bodies animated by a Dark Wizard so I
guess they would look like walking corpses. Ghosts are sort of silvery
and glide rather than walk. They don't look like dead bodies at all,
and they talk and act like their living selves."

And then Snape would have said something like, "But what *is* a ghost,
Potter?" at which point I would have responded, "Er, something like
the soul of a dead person in visible form?"

At which point, he would have looked at me with profound contempt for
my ignorance and informed me that it was the imprint of a departed soul.

And then, not daring to ask what that definition meant, I, as Harry,
would have said something like, "But ghosts aren't dangerous, are
they, sir?" But, then, I'd have treated Snape more respectfully than
Harry does, knowing that, however dangerous (and possibly wicked) he
might be, he does know what he's talking about and I could learn from
him if I listened.

And then I would hope that Hermione or someone would ask the
important, actually the key question, about how to defend yourself
from an Inferius, at which point I would probably be informed that
Inferi were covered in chapter 32 and would be studied near the end of
the year!

At any rate, "Ghosts are transparent" *is* a rather feeble answer to a
question that should probably not have been asked in the first place.
A mere Muggle like me could tell the difference between an Inferius
and a ghost without ever having seen (or believed in) either one.

Carol, wondering whether there's a difference between an Inferius and
a zombie