pauraque_bk | PoA 14

Perhaps not as wordy as my usual, as I've strained my wrist. From all the typing, I imagine.

PoA 14: Snape's Grudge

Everywhere they went next day they saw signs of tighter security; Professor Flitwick could be seen teaching the front doors to recognise a large picture of Sirius Black[...] A bunch of surly security trolls had been hired to guard [the Fat Lady]. (198)

They take these measures only now? Not after the Halloween incident?

'[...]Him an' me'll be goin' down ter London together. I've booked two beds on the Knight Bus...' (201-202)

So, the Knight Bus can be used in cases other than emergencies. Perhaps Hagrid, not being a full-fledged wizard, can't flag it down.

'Gawd knows yeh've had enough ter be gettin' on with[...]' (202)

I'd be very interested in seeing every time a character says "God" in the series. I know there are several more besides this.

'Er-- not now -- I was going to go to the library and do that vampire essay for Lupin--' (204)

I'd thought the vampire essay was closer to the time Snape had set the werewolf essay, but this is several months later. It's April.

This scene, where Neville tries to get Harry to hang out with him (he suggests a card game, then homework), comes off a little strange. Of course, Neville's been forbidden from Hogsmeade, and is probably lonely... but his unwillingness to take the hint that Harry doesn't want company seems unusual, and the scene doesn't really go anywhere.

Except... Snape sees them together, shortly before the scene where he goes on about how much Harry resembles James. Perhaps seeing Neville follow at Harry's heels brought James to the front of Snape's mind.

The owls sat hooting softly down at him[...] (205)

Harry's under the invisibility cloak. Are they really hooting at him, or just hooting in general? Mrs Norris can't sense him through the cloak, as I recall, but we don't know about other animals.

'I really wish I could hear that great hairy moron trying to defend himself ... "There's no 'arm in 'im, 'onest --" ... that Hippogriff's as good as dead --' (206)

Draco's still getting a lot mileage out of imitating people. This line jolted me a bit, which is

juxiantang's fault... it reminded me creepily of the Draco-as-Hagrid scene in "Damage Control"!

Snape's eyes were boring into Harry's. It was exactly like trying to stare out a Hippogriff. Harry tried hard not to blink. (208)

Plays very differently in light of OotP. Low-level Legilimency?

'Everyone from the Minister for Magic downwards has been trying to keep famous Harry Potter safe from Sirius Black. But famous Harry Potter is a law unto himself. Let the ordinary people worry about his safety! [...]' (209)

'[James], too, was exceedingly arrogant. [...] Strutting around the place with his friends and admirers ... the resemblance between you is uncanny.' (209)

Except that Harry is really more careless than arrogant, this is all true. It's only when it comes from someone other than Snape -- Remus (213), the Pensieve (OotP) -- that Harry believes it.

'Mr Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball.' (211)

If nothing else, this is probably what tips Snape off. As we saw in OotP, Peter was called Wormtail in casual conversation, in hearing of other people.

Snape pointed at the parchment, on which the words of Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs were still shining. An odd, closed expression appeared on Lupin's face. (212)

What a reaction! As usual, Lupin responds with perfect calm to what we know in retrospect (213) is upsetting to him...

'Indeed?' said Snape. His jaw had gone rigid with anger. '[...]You don't think it more likely that he got it directly from the manufacturers?' (212)

...while Snape can't conceal his agitation.

Past re-read posts are here.