[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape Teaching Occlemency

[Kelly Grosskreutz]

No: HPFGUIDX 74060

> > Buttercup:
> >
> > I never understood why Snape started on the count of
> > three. The Dark Lord isn't going to say, "Okay Harry,
> > one, two, three, I'm reading your thoughts." Snape
> > should have taken Harry off guard every time. It would
> > have been better practice for Harry.

Marianne:
> As Harry is a novice at all of this, the "one, two, three.." I
> believe is used as a verbal cue to get ready.  Since the level of
> ability between Snape and Harry is, I presume, quite different, if
> Harry hasn't got those few seconds to mentally get himself on guard,
> he may never stand a chance to progress. He has to learn to walk
> before he can run.
>
> I would also assume that, had the lessons continued, or indeed, if
> Harry receives additional lessons in 6th year, eventually his tutor
> will stop with this "ready, get set, go" routine, and just let fly.

The very first time Snape uses Legilimency, the only thing he says in
warning is, "Brace yourself, now."  He gives Harry little to no time to
actually prepare before letting loose.  It was after that attempt that he
started doing the one two three bit.  I see the first attack as a test of
Harry's innate ability to block, since Snape knew Harry has had experience
successfully blocking the Imperius Curse.  In my mind, maybe Snape thought
that Harry might have better luck blocking if he had more than a second to
prepare.  Granted, the Dark Lord is not going to give him that time to
prepare but, as Marianne says, Harry does need to walk first.  Just find it
interesting that the very first time they did this, Snape hardly gave a
warning, but the rest of the time he did.

I am going to be away from the list for a bit, so if anyone wants to respond
to this or any other Harry Potter-related topic, feel free to send it to me
in email.  I may be checking the web site from time to time.

Kelly Grosskreutz
http://www.idcnet.com/~ivanova