Another Observation about Harry's First Potions Lesson

[terri-testing.livejournal.com]

It’s been pointed out before, it’s very easy to read the series of questions in Harry’s first Potions lesson as Snape’s attempt, having pulled Potter up sharply for making faces with Ron (and given the whole class the salutary lessons “do the reading” and “I won’t favor someone even if other teachers are fawning over him”) to let the boy save face by getting an answer right. Others have commented before that the questions get progressively easier, more general, and more likely for a Muggle-educated child to know.

But I just noticed something else. Look closely at what happens after Harry fails to answer the second (bezoar) question.


“Thought you wouldn’t open a book before coming, eh, Potter?”

Harry forced himself to keep looking straight into those cold eyes. He had looked thought his books at the Dursleys’, but did Snape expect him to remember everything in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi?



Severus is a Legilimens, and Harry’s meeting his eyes.

But, of course, the set text for Potions is Arsenius Jigger’s Magical Draughts and Potions. Harry’s thinking about his Herbology text. Maybe the kid would do better with a botanical question?

Comments

[jana-ch.livejournal.com]

Why is it humiliating? Because anyone who dares to treat Harry as if he were an ordinary student instead of the extra-special Boy-Who-Lived Gryffindor Chosen One Hero-of-a-Seven-Book-Series Christ Figure is a MEANIE!

This would be fine if the author didn't agree with Harry 100% and thereby cause the readers to agree as well. I have no problem with eleven-year-old Harry thinking a strict and demanding teacher is mean, but instead of growing out of it as he gets older, he becomes convinced that a strict and demanding teacher is Evil Incarnate. And again, the author (and therefore the readers) agree. Sigh.