Snape's Backslide/under-age magic (was Re: Welcome!)

[carolynwhite2]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "kneasy" <arrowsmithbt at b...> 
wrote:
> Sirius claimed Snape had a greater knowledge of dark arts at 11 than
> most of the sixth year. Who taught him and how? From what we know
> Snape wouldn't get a wand until he received his Hogwarts letter and
> he seems pretty contemptuous of 'wand-waving' anyway. So unless he
> showed a precocious proclivity for arcane culinary arts I don't see 
how he would have learned that much that early. Though he'd  make up 
for it later on the post-grad "Murder and Mayhem for Aspirant DEs" 
course.
> No; I suspect casual hyperbole on Sirius' part.
> 
> Kneasy


Well, JKR is pretty casual herself about the rules for under-age 
magic it seems to me. Look at Gred & Forge turning Ron's teddy into a 
spider - sounds like pretty advanced transfiguration, and (I assume) 
wand-less magic by five year-olds, and they may have nicked a wand to 
do it. Molly and Arthur could have received a howler for it, I 
suppose. 

But then there is Hermione practising spells before she went to 
Hogwarts, and the Weasley boys didn't get MoM howlers after rescuing 
Harry. And Ginny, flying on her brothers' broomsticks without 
permission since the age of six? 

And then there is Harry himself, on one hand releasing snakes from 
zoos and finding himself on school roofs, and hearing nothing from 
the MoM, then all hell is suddenly let loose when a house elf 
explodes a cake? And all of that is wandless magic. Surprised your 
suspicious mind don't begin to sniff a rat ..

If Snape's father was a DE, and Snape grew up during Voldie's first 
rise to power, perhaps his family treated the MoM 'rules' with 
impunity anyway, much like the Malfoys continue to do today? Besides, 
potions are a kind of arcane culinary art it seems - as you say, not 
requiring 'wand-waving'. Maybe they are harder for the MoM to detect -
 their so-called system would seem to be a bit primitive anyway, if 
they can't even tell if it is Harry or Dobby doing the magic at 
Privet Drive.

And surely, wouldn't Sirius be in a good position to evaluate Snape's 
knowledge of the Dark Arts, given the Black family's interest in 
same?  

Carolyn
Thinking the old timers here are probably beginning to regret being 
so generous with their invitations..