Chapter 11
The Quidditch season begins, and Harry is about to play in his first match against Slytherin. This match can be seen as a metaphor for Harry's future relationship between Malfoy and himslef, and Snape and himself. Moreover, I am of the opinion that the golden snitch is a literary symbol, not just a simple, but magical bauble.
Anyway, to prepare for the match, Harry borrows a book entitled Quidditch Through the Ages from Hermione. Professor Snape discovers Ron, Harry, and Hermione out with the book one evening and confiscates it from Harry on the feeble pretext that library books may not be taken outside. This is important.
Harry feels that Snape is unduly attempting to limit his success, and he is of course right. As we all know, Snape sees Harry as a reminder not only of Lilly, but of James Potter whom he despised and was jealous of. Re: Quidditch: James=Harry. As such, Harry’s suspicions of Snape continue to grow.
The next morning, the Quidditch match begins. He spots the snitch and is flying toward it when the Slytherin Seeker pushes him out of the way and is penalized. Later in the game, Harry’s broom begins moving uncontrollably. Hagrid comments that only dark magic could make a broomstick so hard to manage.
Spoiler
Hermione notices that Snape is staring at Harry and muttering to himself. Of course, as the author intends, we all are led to believe that Snape is responsible, when in fact, he is protecting not only the offspring of his love, Lilly, but also preserving the one weapon that will serve to destroy the thing that killed her (LV).
As the Weasley twins try to rescue their teammate Harry, Hermione rushes over to Snape, sneaks behind him, and sets his robe on fire. Suddenly, the spell on Harry’s broo is broken and Harry is once again in control. He starts speeding toward the ground and lands, catching the Snitch. But what really has Harry done here?
Harry has not only caught the snitch and won the game for Gryffindor (at the expense of Malfoy and Slytherin), he has, by catching the (snitch) brass ring so to speak, set himself on a path as the leader of ALL of Gryfindor, and begun to publically build a reputation based on FACT, rather than past, whispered events. He has started to build his own legend in a present tense for all to witness.
Spoiler
As such, the Snitch is not just a bauble, but a symbol of Harry's ascension from the world of Muggles to his rightful place in the Wizarding world, and as the heir to his Father's legacy (the foil of Slytherin)!
