Snape's Loyalties

[melclaros]

No: HPFGUIDX 73772

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "snapesmate" <snapesmate at h...> 
wrote:
> 
> 
> I think teaching occlumency is rather like teaching someone to ride 
a 
> bicycle.  You kind of hold the bicycle and get them rolling, 
("brace 
> yourself, 1, 2, 3..) but then the person must "sense" how to 
balance 
> (guard there own thoughts)themselves.  No one can explain HOW to 
> balance, you just have to grasp/catch onto it for yourself.  Once 
you 
> do learn the initial balancing (invasion repelling), then you can 
be 
> taught how to improve on it or be given further "tips and tricks" 
as 
> to how to tweek your skills.  


I used this analogy myself trying to defend Snape's teaching "method" 
to someone who had, oddly, no trouble with "Moody"'s nearly identical 
method for teaching how to throw off the imperious curse.
I've taught 2 kids how to ride bikes and still can't tell you how we 
did it. You can explain that he'll fall over if he stops pedalling. 
Rest assured the minute he realizes you've let go of the back of the 
seat he's going to stop pedalling, coast a few feet and fall. The 
next attempt he'll pedal. Furiously. But will look back and 
scream "How do I steer?" Whoops. Mom scratches head, "You just DO!" 
And let's not even TRY to explain stopping without falling....

The words echo through my head "I assure you I did not beg for the 
job." I wonder if Snape was referring to teaching Harry Occlumency or 
teaching Occlumency in general.

Melpomene--trying to ignore it's teaching *driving* next.