OCCLUMENCY LESSONS/ also DD's Intentions

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 95216

> Pippin wrote in
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/94796 :
> 
> << I also think, as I've said before, that IMO, this was a felix
> culpa, since Occlumency only opened Harry's mind further to Voldemort
> in a way which Dumbledore, IMO, did not expect.
<snip>

Catlady:
> I'm inclined to agree with your post, but I thought you (oh inhabitant
> of the Safe House) would have something more conspiratorial instead of
> taking it at face value.

Annemehr:
Okay, Catlady, I *know* you know the difference between Pippin and
Pip!Squeak (you've been on this list for years), so we'll just put the
"Safe House" reference down to a brain spasm or something...

ANYway, don't forget that Dumbledore knew the Occlumency lessons would
(at least temporarily) open Harry's mind further to Voldemort; he says
so during his end-of-the-book speech.  That's why he made Snape teach him.

I posted before that I thought it was too bad that Snape hadn't warned
Harry of this effect, because if Harry had known, he would have had
one less reason to distrust Snape during the lessons and maybe would
have tried a little harder.  However, now that I remember how angry
Snape became when he saw evidence of the strengthening scar connection
during the lessons, I have to wonder if Dumbledore had failed to warn
Snape as well (and how did DD know about it, anyway?).

As far as DD wanting to enable Voldemort to lure Harry into the DoM, I
don't want to believe it.  If DD can keep Harry out of the DoM, then
LV will *have* to go himself, and I think DD was hoping to catch him
there.  BUT, if DD had lookouts in place to catch LV, why didn't they
catch Harry & co. sooner when they arrived instead?  After what
happened to Podmore and Arthur Weasley, it looks quite possible that
the DEs were just able to outmanoever the Order member(s) stationed
there when they were clearing the way for Harry. Since this was
supposed to be a stealth operation on LV's side, it also makes sense
that the DEs would incapacitate the lookout rather than kill (but why
then would Malfoy allow the DEs to kill Harry's companions?).

In general, I think the story is going to contain people and motives
that are not what they seem.  Some deceptions won't be uncovered until
the very end.  However, I also think the greater part of *each book*
will turn out to have been truly (just not *completely*) explained in
each one's last chapters.  The trick, of course, is to discover which
is which.  Though I know DD has yet to explain much to Harry, I'm
tending to believe most of that ending speech at the moment.  'Course,
I'll be avidly reading theories to the contrary and I'm not promising
I won't be swayed!

Annemehr