Dumbledore's mistakes

[Lliannanshe]

No: HPFGUIDX 74456

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Richelle Votaw" <rvotaw at i...> 
wrote:
<<<snip>>> 2) Not telling Harry specifically why he wanted him to 
study Occlumency.  Big mistake.  Snape's "because Dumbledore said so" 
reasoning isn't enough for Harry, especially after the way Dumbledore 
had been acting toward him.  And after everyone raving about how 
Arthur would've died if not for Harry's dream, you can't really 
blame  Harry there. <<<snip>>>

I will agree that it was a mistake for DD not to tell HP why he 
needed Occlumency lessons himself.  But HP did not get a 
just "because Dumbledore said so" explanation as to why he needs to 
learn Occlumency.  

In OOP US CHP 24 PGS 530-533  / The conversation between Snape and 
Harry 
SS "Occlumency is this branch of magic seals the mind against magical 
intrusion and influence."
HP asks SS why DD would think he would need it.  
SS "The Dark Lord is highly skilled in Legilimency -"  
HP "What is that?  Sir?"  
SS "It is the ability to extract feelings and memories from another 
person's mind - " 
HP "He could know what we are thinking right now?" 
SS "eye contact is often essential to Legilimency."   
HP asks again why he needs to learn Occulumency.  
SS "The usual rules do not seem to apply to you
 The curse that 
failed to kill you forged some kind of connection between you and the 
Dark Lord
The headmaster thinks it inadvisable for this to 
continue."  HP "But why does Professor Dumbledore want to stop it"   
SS  "
the Dark Lord has been unaware of the connection between you 
and himself until recently
"
HP "How come I saw through the snakes eyes if it's Voldemort's 
thoughts I'm sharing?"
SS "You seem to have visited the snake's mind because that was where 
the Dark Lord was at that particular moment"
It isn't until Harry asks how SS knows Voldemort was inside the snake 
with Voldemort that SS tells him "It is enough that we know" HP 
deduces that with access to his feeling Voldemort might make him do 
something. 

In these 4 pages we learn the basics of Occulumency and Legilimency.  
We also learn US PG 531 that "The Dark Lord almost always knows when 
somebody is lying to him.  Only those skilled in Occlumency are able 
to shut down those feelings and memories that contradict the lie, and 
so utter falsehoods in his presence without detection"  SS is skilled 
in Occlumency enough to teach HP.  Is he skilled enough to lie to 
Voldemort?  Is that why he doesn't want to answer Harry's question?  
It would blow his cover if/when Voldemort gets into his mind again.  
Fuel for the Spy!Snape.

LLiannanshe
In the Isle of Man, a spirit friend, a female fairy who waited to 
encounter men. If one spoke to her she followed him always, but 
remained invisible to everyone else.