Mike, you misunderstand me. I'm not an idiot; the *why* of putting in the "violence" in the scene I understand perfectly. (Though Radcliffe's wrong about it being the first time they slipped in something that wasn't there.) That wasn't my question.

My question merely had to do with why they'd be in the situation in order to be abused. I didn't take it to be an actual "Study Hall" since a. we've never seen them have one and b. it's treated more like an exam than just "time to do your work." If it's just studying/doing homework in free time, then why does Snape have to proctor? (Waste of a teacher's time - use a prefect.) And if it's an actual exam of some kind (as suggested by the composition books and Hermione turning hers in), then why are multiple years all sitting the exam at the same time? (And if it *is* an exam, I'd think the punishment for talking would be more severe than a clap on the noggin.) *That's* what didn't make sense to me, not providing Snape an opportunity to boot them to the head.