Snape's test

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 186408

Montavilla wrote:
> > 
> > I mean, Harry already needs the dang sword.  He's got a Horcrux he
> > needs to destroy.  And, in terms of valor, if trying to kill the most powerful evil wizard in the world isn't enough, why should jumping into an icy pond qualify? 
> 
Pippin responded:
> Snape and Dumbledore don't know that Harry has found a horcrux, so they don't know that the "need" condition has been met.
> 
> Pippin
>
Carol notes:
As far as I can tell, Dumbledore dies thinking that he and Harry have actually found a Horcrux (he never sees RAB's note), so Portrait!DD would think that HRH already have a Horcrux that they need to destroy. At any rate, he knows that Harry *will* need it to destroy the Horcruxes. Snape has asked DD why Harry needs the sword and Portrait!DD has refused to tell him. Nevertheless, Snape knows that Harry needs it for some reason and that it has something to do with defeating Voldemort. So maybe he does know that the need criterion has already been met--or thinks it has. At any rate, I don't see how he could have set up his test so that Harry needs the sword to defend himself, so he does the best he can to meet the conditions of need and valor so Harry can pass the test without seriously endangering Harry, and needing to destroy a Horcrux does seem to satisfy the "need" criterion for Dumbledore and Neville.

As for valor, as both Harry and Dumbledore recognize, Snape has to do something other than leave the sword on the ground for Harry to pick up, and the icy pond is really the best that Snape can do. It does at least require "daring" and "nerve" (from the Sorting Hat's song) if not "valor" to dive into the pool. Clearly, Portrait!DD wants Harry to *earn* the right to retrieve the sword. Wanting to kill the most powerful Wizard in the world would not, I think, qualify as "valor," which Harry could only show in actually confronting present danger. Even wizards can drown, as Harry knows, having nearly drowned after the gillyweed wore off in the Second Task, and icy water is even more dangerous.

Still, would the sword have recognized "daring" and "nerve" as "valor" and allowed Harry to use it because of his "need" to destroy the Horcrux? Would the test of need and valor as Snape set it up have been sufficient in itself? If Harry hadn't been wearing the Horcrux, would diving into the icy water have been sufficient? We don't know because the Horcrux prevents him from grabbing the sword and attempting to use it. All we know is that Ron unquestionably met both criteria, whether or not Snape saw him and intended him as well as Harry to follow the doe Patronus. (Certainly, Snape would have seen him jump in and would have reported to Portrait!DD that Harry was rescued and the sword retrieved.)

Speaking of tests, Harry expected to have to pass a test of magical ability to get into Hogwarts (something like pulling a rabbit out of a hat). And the Ravenclaws are tested on a much smaller scale every time they try to get into their common room. (Does McGonagall's ability to answer the riddle make her a "true Ravenclaw," Sorted too soon? ;-) )

Carol, who think that Harry's extraordinary luck also played a role