CHAPTER DISCUSSION: HPSS/CS Ch8

[Alorkin]

No: HPFGUIDX 188222

1. Harry's Astronomy class is mentioned here for the first and last time before the Astronomy OWL in OoP. Why do you think that the class takes place so late despite the rule that no students should be in the corridors after hours? Do you think that all of the first-years have Astronomy together or is this class another attended by Gryffindors only? Do all the Astronomy classes take place at midnight, and, if so, how does Professor Sinistra fit seven (or more) midnight classes into her schedule?
 
**I'd imagine those taking Astronomy would be exempted from the general rule, though I cannot understand why the castle is off limits to students after hours in the first place.  Isn't it `the safesty place in Britain'?  The houses are paired for other classes, so it stands to reason that they'd be paired here.  Even if they are grouped into one lump per year, astronomy is only required until OWL's.  Except for independent study, a schedule can be worked out for the classes to take advantage of the midnight sky
unless it's overcast, as in most of northern Europe. 

2. Harry takes five core subjects—Herbology, Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, along with History of Magic and Astronomy. What do you think of this set of classes for a group of eleven-year-old novice witches and wizards? Which class (setting aside the instructors since we barely glimpse any of them except Snape) would be your favorite and why?
 
**The core classes are like any high school.  They should provide a basic grounding in the requirements for living in the wizarding world.
Personally I think Potions, Herbology and CoMC should be taught together, so the end result is a student who knows not only how to brew the potions but why the ingredients interact the way they do.  I have never understood Snape's reluctance to teach students, such an exacting and dangerous art, instead preferring to leave it up to blind chance and take points when chance goes wrong.  My choice would be a three-way tie.  Transfiguration, Charms and DADA.

3. Why do you think that Quirrell's turban and classroom smell like garlic? Did his blushing and confusion when Seamus asked him about fighting off the zombie arouse your suspicion? What was your initial reaction when Quirrell rescued Harry and Ron from detention with Filch for trying to get through the forbidden door?
 
While his excuse is misleading at best, think about it.  His body is slowly decomposing from the necromantic ritual he went through to host the parasite known as Voldemort.   Such decay is –always- accompanied by a strong smell.  How better to disguise said smell than with something stronger.  My question here, is why didn't any of the teachers notice??

4. Harry's first Potions class is on a Friday, "Double Potions with the Slytherins." Does Potions class meet only once a week for a double period or might there be some other reason for having the first class so late in the week? Why do you think that the Gryffindors have two classes (Potions and the not-yet-scheduled flying lessons) with the Slytherins, one class (Herbology) with the Hufflepuffs, and none with the Ravenclaws?
 
**It could be an attempt to get the students to interact more than at meals by putting them in each class with different houses.  Rowling placed Gryffindor and Slytherin together in order to foster as much animosity as possible.  In addition, I cannot be certain, but I believe Ravens share both History and Transfiguration.   

5. Snape asks Harry where he might find a bezoar, what he would get if he added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood, and what the difference is between monkshood and wolfsbane? Why do you think that Snape asked those particular questions? Do you think that he asks the same questions to every class or that he chose them specifically for Harry?
 
**I actually believe he asks them of everyone, both to determine who is worthy of teaching, and to show off.  Snape is a egotistical man with little to show.  Any opportunity to show off would be ambrosia to him.  I can se his speech on the three questions, ending up something like this:  "Those of you who wish to study the fine art of potions making, would do well to study more than the standard texts, as none of those questions can be found there."  Or something of the like.  


6. When Snape asks Harry about the bezoar, Harry wonders whether Snape expects him to have memorized every word of "One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi." But the Potions text mentioned in "Diagon Alley" is "Magical Drafts and Potions" by Arsenius Jigger. "One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi" is almost certainly the Herbology text. How do you explain this apparent error on JKR's part?

**While it may be an error on JKR's part, Herbs and Fungi are also used in potions.  I know of several dozen locally available fungi that are toxic, and can assume that those could be made into either poison or potion.  Aspirin, for instance, was first made from a fungus.  
 
7. Just for fun, why do you think that Snape (and, later, Slughorn) is referred to by the old-fashioned title "Potions master" when no other teacher (except the headmaster or headmistress) is called by a similar title? Why not "Potions teacher" for Snape and "Charms master" for Flitwick, for example?

It could be a title, like PhD, MbA, or the like, They may actually have earned the title through continued study, though in Snape's case that's not likely, or it could be overblown ego's, as both have been shown to have.  Snape is far too young to have earned a mastery in anything.  More, he was hired immediately after the Potters were murdered.  He'd have been twenty or twenty one, at best.  
 
8. Feel free to add your own question. 

**Why is the castle off limits to students after hours?  Why has no one done anything about Snape's blatant abuses of power?  Why did none of the staff suspect anything about Quirrell?  Snape covets the position, surely his unmasking Quirrelmort would guarantee him the position.  Why does Dumbledore foster the interhouse hatreds through his inaction?  

Alorkin