Occlumency Lessons WAS Re: Snape's Attitude Toward the Students

[dzeytoun at cox.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 108535

Boyd T. Smythe wrote:

So where would DD have the time to tutor Harry in Occlumency or 
anything else? It feels like a given of the series that DD is a 
kindly, brilliant, powerful and *busy* wizard who can only give small 
portions of his time to Harry.

Besides, Harry hasn't asked DD to teach him, has he?

DZEYTOUN:  But Dumbledore himself says it was a mistake for him not to teach Harry Occlumency.  That implies that Dumbledore certainly thinks he has the time.  And watching Harry "more closely than you can have imagined" certainly has to take quite a chunk of hours as well.  As we've said with regard to Snape and McGonagall, time at Hogwarts seems to expand and contract as needed for the plot.

As far as Harry asking Dumbledore to teach him, well, I'm not sure Dumbledore will leave it up to Harry and I don't really think he should.  I mean you have a kid who is in danger of mental assault and possession by the most evil wizard around.  In addition, he might endanger all sorts of other people if Voldemort seizes control.  Yes, Dumbledore does need a new relationship with Harry, and yes, he does need to start treating Harry with more respect, but let's not be silly here!  This is a time when you approach a sixteen-year-old and say "Listen kid, this is how we're going to handle this situation."  Importantly, and the thing Dumbledore did not do in OOTP, you also say "this is WHY we're going to do this."

Dzeytoun