Dumbledore's mistakes -Occlumency/Respect

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 74583

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Richelle Votaw" <rvotaw at i...>
wrote:
> 
> bboy_mn:
> 
>>> Actually, Snape did tell Harry exactly why he should study
occlumency, but Harry's emotions and intense dislike for Snape
distracted him and it never really sunk in. <<< 

> Richelle:
> 
> You're right of course.  But then, Harry could've said "so pigs are
> going to fly in my dorm" and it wouldn't have sunk in any more in 
> Snape's presence.
> :)
> 

> > bboy_mn org:
>
>>> Conclusion: I agree that putting Snape and Harry together was
asking for trouble, but what were the alternatives? <<<


Richelle continues:
> 
> Good question.  Dumbledore said he should've done it himself, but I 
> don't quite understand how that would've worked. Could he have 
> taught Harry without making eye contact?  I suppose.  
> 


bboy_mn:

I had this strange vision of Dumbledore and Harry standing around
Harry's bedroom at Privet Drive both wearing chrome lense aviator
sunglasses, and practicing Occlumency. Don't know if it would work,
but you have to admit that would be a pretty odd scene to walk in on.



> Richelle continues:
>
> Snape still has no reason to hate Harry.  Harry has done nothing (or
> hadn't until he stuck his nose where it wasn't wanted in Snape's 
> memories) to earn Snape's hatred.  James did, yes.  Harry is not 
> James.  Snape needs to get that through his head.  ...
> 

bboy_mn:

I don't think it is so much that Snape hates Harry as it is just plain
raw hate. He has hated so much and for so long, and to some extent
rightly so, that the very sight of Harry, who looks like James, brings
that hated to a boil. And like boiling water in a closed container,
it/he can't take the pressure for long before that hate comes bursting
out. When it does come flying out, Harry ends up being the lightening
rod that attracts it. I'm not sure what Snapes problem with Neville
is, but a certain amount of that raw hate seems to be drawn to him
like a magnet. (did I use enough metaphors)

> Richelle:
>
> Now, we are free to speculate who may be decent at Occlumancy. As 
> you said, Moody may be.  Or someone else in the Order, another Auror
> perhaps. Problem getting them to Hogwarts every week for lessons, 
> though.  I suppose there was no other choice than Snape. 

bboy_mn:

It was subtle but I think Snape and Harry have gained a deeper
understanding for each other. Like Harry said, he never thought he
would find himself feeling sorry for Snape, but now he does. And I'm
sure Snape knew that life at the Dursley's was not pleasant, but I
don't think he really understood what Harry went through until he saw
it with his own eyes and felt it with his own, dare I say, heart. 

They say that learning to love your enemies is not about gaining an
appreciate your differences, but becoming fully aware of you
commonalities; fully aware of your shared experiences. I think Harry
and Snape have found a common ground, a common experience, that they
share. It's easy to hate your enemy when he is a stranger, but becomes
much harder when you get to know him. These Occlumency lessons if
nothing else have force Harry and Snape to reveal shared experiences
that they otherwise would never have revealed. 

Snape is always going to be a mean jerk, but I think he will lighten
up a bit on both Harry and Neville. 

I also speculate that Harry and Snape have common ground in that they
not only share a history of abuse, but I think they each have a
tragedy that is a defining moment in their lives. Oddly, I think that
tragic defining moment is the same event for both of them.



> Richelle,
> What would  happen if I were to stand over one of my first grade 
> students and say "Subtract!  Just do it!  Subtract!"
> ...  They would cry sooner or later, I suppose.  ...edited...
> 
> Richelle

bboy_mn:

Safe bet you would not be getting a nomination for teacher of the
year, and you would not be building many happy student memories of the
joy of learning. Certainly, no one who goes to Hogwarts ever forgets
Professor Snape. I suspect when they're older and are sitting around
having ale, and the topics of conversation get thin, each person has a
Snape horror story they like to tell. Really, a teacher should not
aspire to universal love and acceptance, but I seriously doubt that
any GOOD teacher wants to be the 'universal' horror story of every
student.

On another note, I think the teachers who are recalled fondly in later
years are teachers like McGonagall; firm but fair. You fear them, but
you respect them, and they respect you, and ultimately in hindsight,
you see that you learned the most from them.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn