OoP - Occlumency - A case for Evil!Snape?

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 66769

Maritza: 


> 
> What other way was there for Snape to teach Harry Occlumency? Just 
> like when Lupin was teaching Harry to produce a patronus, he had to 
> experience it firsthand, and defend himself. Snape had to get into 
> Harry's mind and Harry's job was to learn how to clear his mind of 
> all thoughts and memories and fight Snape looking at his memories. 
> He's supposed to practice everynight but finds it difficult with 
> everything going on. Plus he's so tired at night he falls straight 
> to sleep the moment his head hits the pillow.


We DON'T know that the true way to Occlumency is to clear your mind. 
That was my whole point.

The examples I gave showed that when Harry went to bed with his mind 
full -- first of Transfiguration homework, then of hate for Umbridge -
- the visions DID NOT come.

And when Harry was drawing a blank in History of Magic, the vision of 
Sirius came.

The assumption is that Harry failed to clear his mind before he went 
to sleep, and I don't know if the text specifically says that. It 
says he found it hard, but not that he failed.

The only person who has explained Occlumency and how it works and how 
to do it is Snape. Harry did NOT share the details of his lessons 
with Sirius, Lupin, Hermione or McGonagall. Only Harry and Snape knew 
what was happening in that room.

 
> True, and I'll go back to the whole patronous thing. Harry felt 
> weaker after each lesson, but as the training went on, he excelled. 
> I think it's also about the teacher/pupil relation. Harry trusted 
> Lupin fully so he didn't mind being pushed to do better. Snape 
being  the teacher in a way made Harry care less about performing 
well and impressing anyone.


Harry also had a clearly defined threat when Lupin was teaching him 
and Lupin wasn't berating him about his lack of importance, his 
ignorance, his alleged arrogance, and sneering at him while armed 
with memories of childhood.

Harry never felt weaker after Lupin's lessons. Lupin made sure he'd 
had enough chocolate and was recovered before letting him leave the 
room. Harry felt MORE susceptible to the dreams after the lessons.

I found it telling that during the Potions OWL, when Snape wasn't in 
the room, both Harry AND Neville showed an aptitutde for making 
potions. What does that say about your teaching skills when the 
students do better when you're gone?

> From Snape's explanation of Occlumency, and what Lupin, Sirius, and 
> Dumbledore say about it throughout the book it does seem Snape was 
> doing his job properly- as for following the basics.


All Sirius, Lupin and D-Dore say is that it is important Harry learn 
it. They are assuming Snape is going to do it properly. They don't go 
into detail about it, confirming that the "clear your mind" routine 
is the way to go.

No one observes the lessons to see what Snape is doing. It's all on 
trust, which is fine if Snape is truly what he says he is, but I'm 
pointing out that we only have Snape's word that he was doing his 
best to help Harry. 

And by the way, even if Snape was doing it right, D-Dore admits at 
the end that he was wrong to give Snape the task. Snape hated James 
too much to properly teach Harry.

 
> They never actually said they would tell Dumbledore themselves. And 
> if Dumbledore had heard about it, Harry's Occlumency lessons would 
> have been resumed, wether by Snape or someone else, it was an 
> important task.

Snape went on and on to Sirius about how it was D-Dore's orders that 
he teach it. So, D-Dore's orders were actually phrased, "Teach Harry 
Occlumency, unless he pisses you off, then you don't have to?"

C'mon, Snape knew this is what D-Dore wanted him to do, and he didn't 
do it. Hate for James, and hate for Harry prevented him.

So, Snape has time to indulge in hate instead of actually performing 
the task D-Dore sets for him? 

When Sirius and Lupin are both encouraging Harry to study hard in 
Occlumency? When McGonagall is choking down every insult Umbridge 
throws at her? When Hagrid puts his life on the line? 

Hate on your own time, Severus. 

Darrin
-- I love the 80s moment: "What was with Alf's nose? It was like, 
ribbed for her pleasure."