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Harry and the Snake, Could Harry communicate with it without talking?

Zouzou View Member Profile	Jan 16 2007, 09:50 AM Post #1
Being Eaten by the Pea Soup Posts: 37 Joined: 5:07pm May 6, 2006 Location: Academy of Beauxbâtons, France	Hey everyone!!! i don't know if somebody has already mentionned it but as i was reading the chapter "the vanishing glass" of SS/PS i wondered if harry was somehow able to communicate with snakes without using parseltongue i don't have the book with me so can't quote the exact sentence but as harry was watching the boa constrictor in the zoo and thinking that it must be really bored, the snake which was fast asleep suddenly awoke and blinked at him the problem is that harry didn't talk to it first so how come did it awake instantly when harry just thought about it????? could it be a real ability that harry possesses?and if it is, could it be useful for him in the future? i'd like to hear what you think about it best regards -------------------- <a href="http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/#quiz:2"><img src="http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/newquiz/take_quiz/image_sm/28018" /></a>

Shalanarah View Member Profile	Jan 16 2007, 10:16 AM Post #2
Sirius Black's No. 1 Fan Posts: 668 Joined: 8:48am September 13, 2006 Location: On Sirius's bedroom wall. I'm that muggle in a bikini.	oh right, he didn't say anything before that snake winked at him. I think it is because snakes can sense a parseltongue. That snake may sensed that Harry can understand him so he winked at him and wanted to talk to him, after all the snake was bored. -------------------- -Lupin sprang to his feet: his chair toppled over backwards, and he glared at them so fiercely that Harry saw, for the first time ever, the shadow of the wolf upon his human face.- DH p.175 turns me on...Angry Lupin = sexy! Marauders (15+)

nympheart View Member Profile	Jan 16 2007, 03:45 PM Post #3
Gambol and Japes' Research Department Posts: 1,375 Joined: 3:41pm July 24, 2005 Location: The Time Room of the DoM, trying to find a way to slow down time	I agree with Shalanarah. I think it could intuitively tell that Harry spoke its language. It could also to a lesser degree be that the snake knew that, not only could Harry speak its language, but they could understand each other on a...um...human level. By this, I mean, the snake knew that it could identify with Harry, both being caged and treated as animals. -------------------- "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" Thanks for the use of the Garden image tanyal33!

Lacrimosa View Member Profile	Jan 16 2007, 04:03 PM Post #4
Being Eaten by the Pea Soup Posts: 18 Joined: 10:44pm January 9, 2007 Location: NJ	wow u guys! i never thought off this before! this is a very interisting point....I have to agree with, Shalanarah, that could be the reason why the snake even moved when harry didn't even speak...I wonder if this could come in handy with Nagini? -------------------- "It's the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more." - Albus Dumbledore.

jlgreer1 View Member Profile	Jan 16 2007, 09:32 PM Post #5
Cauldron Bottom Measurer Posts: 98 Joined: 5:13pm June 11, 2005 Location: Texas	I think Harry communicates with the snakes on a subconscious level. To him the communications seem natural and ordinary. He even comments to Hermione that it must be something everyone can do. The verbalizations may be for the readers sake??? Jeff

pjo View Member Profile	Jan 17 2007, 11:26 AM Post #6
Just Through the Brick Wall Posts: 8 Joined: 3:43am September 6, 2006	The snake probably tried to communicate with some other people but they probably didn't get it. Just like humans communicate in far more than just words, I'd believe being a parseltongue goes beyond being able to "translate" speech.. but also understand visual clues. Put another way, to Harry, the snake's movement's clearly looked like a wink. Not sure what I'd think if a Boa Constrictor leveled it's head with me and blinked. We clearly see that later when Draco fires a snake at Harry and he chases it convincing it not to attack. It looks to other people like he was urging it on. In fact, it seems only Harry notices the difference between the snake looking docile and it veering for an attack.

DumbleDebbie View Member Profile	Jan 19 2007, 10:42 PM Post #7
Dodgy Cauldrons Dealer Posts: 1,683 Joined: 7:58pm April 7, 2006 Location: Maine	I think Harry was connecting with the snake unconsciously using some latent Legilimens ability, even before the snake opened its eyes. Harry was in close physical proximity to the snake. He was intently focused on it. He was feeling a strong emotional connection to the snake. And, as we later learn, he knows its language. Debbie -------------------- 'It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.' ~ APWB Dumbledore "Caput Draconis" :D Congrats Knight62442 Werewolves! Awooooo!!!

lilian View Member Profile	Jan 21 2007, 11:53 AM Post #8
Monster Book Stacker Posts: 392 Joined: 9:19am December 14, 2005 Location: Somewhere in the United Kingdom, trying to find JKR's house	we know from HBP and LV (or, young tom riddle, i should say) that snakes are drawn to parselmouths. and so, it seems normal that this snake talks to harry, even if 3 minutes prior, he was fast asleep. QUOTE some latent Legilimens ability i am not sure harry has any. QUOTE only Harry notices the difference between the snake looking docile and it veering for an attack. very interesting! it might prove very important when he face nagini! -------------------- 2% teens have NEVER tried smoking. I am proud to be one of them. If you are one of them, copy and paste this on your signature!

nympheart View Member Profile	Jan 22 2007, 05:33 PM Post #9
Gambol and Japes' Research Department Posts: 1,375 Joined: 3:41pm July 24, 2005 Location: The Time Room of the DoM, trying to find a way to slow down time	QUOTE(DumbleDebbie @ Jan 19 2007, 10:42 PM) [snapback]1070266[/snapback] I think Harry was connecting with the snake unconsciously using some latent Legilimens ability, even before the snake opened its eyes. Harry was in close physical proximity to the snake. He was intently focused on it. He was feeling a strong emotional connection to the snake. And, as we later learn, he knows its language. Debbie I like your idea of latent Legillimency. The reason Harry can't seem to perform Occlumency, his lack of ability to "compartmentalize his life and emotions" in the words of Jo, as far as I can tell shouldn't have anything to do with its opposite. It ties in with Harry's connection to LV. If this is the case, we have to assume that the snake was able to feel Harry's use of Legilimency. Perhaps this is possible because of Harry's lack of skill with the magic combined with the snake recognizing their ability to communicate. -------------------- "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" Thanks for the use of the Garden image tanyal33!

lyss213 View Member Profile	Jan 22 2007, 08:18 PM Post #10
Just Through the Brick Wall Posts: 14 Joined: 6:03pm January 14, 2007 Location: serving Professor Snape's detention	Is it possible that the ability to talk to snakes was in Harry the whole time, but the magic needed to further the connection actually came from the snake? After all, Harry at the time did not have the magic ability to perform the feat, only the potential ability!