OoP - Occlumency - A case for Evil!Snape?

[karmakaze_kk]

No: HPFGUIDX 66784

--- "darrin_burnett" <bard7696 at a...> wrote:
 
> 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.

Alternately, clearing the mind could be the first step and Harry never
mastered that well enough to continue to more effective techniques.  I
can see clearing the mind as being reasonably effective in prevening
ones mind from being read, but less effective in preventing thoughts
from being introduced from outside.

> 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?

It says he intimidates them.  It's not that uncommon.  Some students
do better with a teacher breathing down their necks, some do worse. 
Which is not to say that Snape's habit of venting annoyance on his
students is a good tactic.
 
> 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.

Although it is interesting to note that Snape stopped teaching Harry
not long after the MoM decree forbidding teachers to teach anything
not directly in their job description...

- Kk