CHAPTER DISCUSSION Chamber of Secrets Ch. 5. The Whomping Willow

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 188821


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> Alla:
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> I would argue because he had no chance to pull this off. All Dumbledore needed to do was to legilimence the participants and find out that it was indeed self defense, or at least this is how I interpret hitting back somebody who attacks you with deadly curse. Yes, I know Harry could have used lesser curse, no to me that does not change the fact that Draco attacked him first with bad curse too.

Potioncat:
When have we ever seen Dumbledore do this? He did not use Legilimency to protect Black (at Pettigrew's death) or to catch Riddle or to prevent Hagrid's expulsion. If he used it all, he kept the information to himself. For whatever reason, Legilimency doesn't seem to come into play when crimes or misbehavior occurs. Does Snape or DD know exactly what happened between Draco and Harry? 


> Alla:
> And I would also say that Snape did not try that because if Snape makes the accusation, Dumbledore hands could have been tied too, but in a different way. I would think that he would have no choice but to expel Draco together with Harry, and that was something that Snape did not want.

Potioncat:
It isn't just Snape who wouldn't want Draco expelled. I don't think Dumbledore wants Draco expelled either. If Draco leaves Hogwarts while Dumbledore is alive, then Draco has failed and will be killed. We know DD is trying to prevent both that and Draco successfully killing anyone. But I don't think Snape wants Harry expelled.. By this time LV is back and Harry would certainly be in danger—with Snape less ever than before to protect him. We know from DH that Snape does want to protect Harry –for Lily.

It may be unclear what Snape really wanted in the first few years, but I think it's certain by HBP he does not want Harry expelled. Does anyone remember the times Snape brought up expulsion? And when he stopped? It would be interesting to really look at each one.

Back to the flying car. Snape clearly says he does not have the power to expel the boys and at least gives the impression it would be an appropriate punishment. Ron seems to agree. McGonagall is the angriest Harry has ever seen her. DD appears disappointed. (DD and Lupin really know how to make Harry feel bad.) I don't think Snape expects the boys to be expelled. He knows that Harry needs to be protected; that one day LV will come after him; surely he knows Harry needs to be trained in magic. He also knows DD and McGonagall.  Did they ever expel James or Sirius? I think this was a "wait till your father gets home" moment. He's surely expecting the boys to be severely punished and is putting that idea in their heads.

What I'd like to know is why Harry and Ron are given a simple, light detention—just a few hours in the castle. It doesn't compare at all to the detention Harry received when McGonagall thought he was out of bounds at night in the castle.

Alla, I understand your dilemma.  It's hard to believe that Snape is protecting Harry, but would want him expelled. I think it's very clear from DH that he never wavered in his commitment to protect Lily's son. So either he wasn't sincere in his efforts to have Harry expelled (which is what I think) or he thought Harry could be better protected away from the WW.