There is that. But it’s just occurred to me: if the person attacking Hermione is not Snape, then what’s Snape been doing to make him late and quite exhausted in Chapter 77?
Well, what do we actually know about the sequence of events? Assuming that things are presented in chronological order seems a bit premature, especially in this fic. More specifically, of the Aftermaths last chapter we know that
Dumbledore+Harry began at 6pm (with an addendum at 9),
Quirrel+Snape was precisely at sunset,
Draco+Bulstrode was at some unknown time in the afternoon or evening,
Draco+Goyle was some unknown time after that, and
Hermione+Mr H&C was also unknown, but either before or after Draco+Bulstrode (since Millicent was present at the meeting Hermione was coming from.)
As far as I know, we are given no indication at all when Interlude with the Confessor happens. It could be immediately after Snape gets back from the meeting with Quirrel, it could be immediately after Hermione is mindraped, it could be the next day for all we know.
But even assuming the Aftermaths are in chronological order, and the Interlude does immediately follow on to the last Aftermath… Snape could have been, say, checking on the third-floor corridor to make sure Quirrel wasn’t bluffing about having stolen and replaced the Stone. In fact, I would expect him to have done this anyway, whether or not he then put on a Hat and Cloak and serial-Obliviated a twelve year old girl. (Eugh.)
That’s all true. And on re-reading, I’m going to go back to my original thought of Quirrel, with the emotional involvement being faked to keep Hermione’s interest. Quirrel did, after all, speak up for her when all others were silent.
There’s certainly evidence pointing that way: “the sibilant whisper”—“dry as dust”—“the high-pitched chuckle” , “What’s your name?” “That is the riddle, young Ravenclaw” , and indeed “for now you have seen how the others stayed silent”...
But while I could easily believe that Jeremy Jaffe is better at projecting false emotion than Hermione is at discerning it, I have a much harder time believing that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, whose eyes blazed crimson like miniature suns, could forget the value of surface appearances.
There is that. But it’s just occurred to me: if the person attacking Hermione is not Snape, then what’s Snape been doing to make him late and quite exhausted in Chapter 77?
Well, what do we actually know about the sequence of events? Assuming that things are presented in chronological order seems a bit premature, especially in this fic. More specifically, of the Aftermaths last chapter we know that
Dumbledore+Harry began at 6pm (with an addendum at 9),
Quirrel+Snape was precisely at sunset,
Draco+Bulstrode was at some unknown time in the afternoon or evening,
Draco+Goyle was some unknown time after that, and
Hermione+Mr H&C was also unknown, but either before or after Draco+Bulstrode (since Millicent was present at the meeting Hermione was coming from.)
As far as I know, we are given no indication at all when Interlude with the Confessor happens. It could be immediately after Snape gets back from the meeting with Quirrel, it could be immediately after Hermione is mindraped, it could be the next day for all we know.
But even assuming the Aftermaths are in chronological order, and the Interlude does immediately follow on to the last Aftermath… Snape could have been, say, checking on the third-floor corridor to make sure Quirrel wasn’t bluffing about having stolen and replaced the Stone. In fact, I would expect him to have done this anyway, whether or not he then put on a Hat and Cloak and serial-Obliviated a twelve year old girl. (Eugh.)
That’s all true. And on re-reading, I’m going to go back to my original thought of Quirrel, with the emotional involvement being faked to keep Hermione’s interest. Quirrel did, after all, speak up for her when all others were silent.
There’s certainly evidence pointing that way: “the sibilant whisper”—“dry as dust”—“the high-pitched chuckle” , “What’s your name?” “That is the riddle, young Ravenclaw” , and indeed “for now you have seen how the others stayed silent”...
But while I could easily believe that Jeremy Jaffe is better at projecting false emotion than Hermione is at discerning it, I have a much harder time believing that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, whose eyes blazed crimson like miniature suns, could forget the value of surface appearances.
Maybe he’s not forgetting, just trying to double-bluff Hermione by appearing suspicious.