This is wonderful -- so many great lines and such a perfect, classic snarky Snape. I like Harry in this, too -- and how Snape is forced to recognize the more admirable attributes/intelligence of all three members of the Trio. And who knew that a scorpion could be so ... emotive? Snape prodded the air with a claw, but no one identified the gesture for what it was. That image got me giggling into my morning coffee. Thanks for this very happy start to my day :-)