Musings on discrepancies/anomalies (?)

[zanelupin]

No: HPFGUIDX 69026

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "D.G." <dgwhiteis at h...> wrote:
> These are both brief, so I'll stick 'em in the same post (if that's 
> okay) --
> 
> 1.  I'm very surprised that entering someone's private memories via 
a 
> Penseive isn't a very serious violation, punishable by expulsion.  
> Dumbledore didn't even PRETEND that Harry had done anything wrong 
> when Harry plunged into his memories, and even Snape kicked Harry 
out 
> of his office rather than threaten to discipline him (granted that 
> since Snape had been charged with tutoring Harry, he might not have 
> been able to carry out that threat.
> 
>      All in all, it seems that plunging into a Penseive and 
observing 
> someone else's private memories is not a punishable offense, or at 
> least has never been defined as one.  Isn't this rather strange?

I don't think it's all that strange that Harry isn't punished, 
considering we're talking about a WW that is not above playing with 
people's minds.  Leaving that unforgiveable Imperius curse behind, we 
see on several occasions that wizards use memory charms not only on 
muggles who stumble across their secrets (Like at the QWC) but also 
on other wizards.  Crouch does it to Bertha Jorkins, Lockhart does it 
to everyone, including himself, and Shacklebolt uses it on Marietta 
in OOP.  While this last instance was used to protect the members of 
the DA, it is no less a violation of a person, and Dumbledore was 
pleased with what Shacklebolt did.
Now, obviously the Pensieve is different from a memory charm, and 
stumbling into another's private memories is also a violation of that 
person.  However, in light of the fact that memory charms seem to be 
common and even encouraged as a means of keeping secrets (muggles and 
Marietta)it doesn't appear that those who stumble into a pensieve 
would be punished.  Especially in the instance of Dumbledore's 
memories since Harry accidentally fell into the pensieve.  I think I 
recall Dumbledore saying something to Harry about his curiosity as I 
took as a subtle hint that Harry should not have done what he did, 
but my copy of GoF is in my car.  
As far as the incident with Snape, I go a little back and forth.  
Clearly Harry willingly violated Snape's privacy.  Snape probably 
could have punished Harry for what he did but was so full of rage 
that he just threw Harry out and told him he wouldn't teach him 
Occlumency anymore.  One could argue, I suppose, that not teaching 
him this defense is a punishment.  But then again, maybe Snape 
doesn't punish Harry with anything like detention because the lessons 
were not a part of Hogwarts.  Just not sure...
Anyway, anyone who puts their memories in a pensieve and then leaves 
it lying about is just asking for trouble.  At least, they ought to 
know they risk someone seeing their thoughts.

As it's said, I hope that makes a little bit of sense.

Have an action-packed, fun-filled ni--No, wait, I do believe the sun 
will be coming up soon--Day,

KathyK (who is still kicking herself for going 0 for 3 in slow-pitch 
softball last night)