Occlumency Lessons

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 108626

"Bex" <hubbarrk at r...> wrote:
> > On another thought, maybe it was a good thing Snape taught Harry 
> > at least a little about Occlumency. Harry has to clear his 
> > emotions in order to block out LV. Sure, it's easy when you 
> > aren't upset, but it's much harder when you are fighting with a 
> > teacher you hate. Harry would have a much easier time clearing 
> > his head with DD than with Snape, but do we think he will be 
> > calm and peaceful the next time he has to lie to LV? Probably 
> > not. Snape (inadvertently) showed him how hard it will be to 
> > stand up to LV.
 
sad1199 replies:
> Maybe you've just hit the nail on the head! If Dumbledore is as 
> great a wizard as he is known for maybe he WANTED Snape to teach 
> Hary Occlumency because of their animosity towards one another. I 
> think he was doing what he thought was best for Harry by having 
> Snape teach him, unfortunately both Harry (being a teenager) and 
> Snape (being raised in his abusive, dysfunctional home) were too 
> immature to go through with the lessons. Maybe, after all that has 
> happened now Dumbledore will have to teach him and Harry might not 
> be strong enough to face LV and then, of course, Snape will have 
to 
> step in and save him. Then, of course, Voldemort will know of 
> Snape's skills... 


SSSusan:
But you've hit on something that I've argued about for quite some 
time where Snape & Harry are concerned.  If it's **really** 
important that Harry learn something, be it Potions or Occlumency, 
then the teacher needs to be SURE that his methods are working with 
Harry.  Whether you think Snape's out of line or perfectly within 
his rights as a teacher, I think it's clear that the methods he's 
used with Harry aren't especially effective WITH HARRY.  

I argued re: potions--and I'll argue it again with Occlumency--that 
for a BEGINNING student, Snape is a horrible match for Harry.  He's 
sarcastic and snarky and nasty; he gets Harry's back up.  Harry 
takes the bait and either gets cheeky himself or quits trying.

What Harry needs, I would argue, is a teacher good with a BEGINNING 
student.  Someone who will interact with him in a calm, gentle & 
dare I say respectful manner, who'll teach him the BASICS of 
Occlumency, help him to understand the whys and wherefores, help him 
to figure out HOW to clear his mind, to let go of emotion, and 
who'll let him practice where he feels SAFE--if nothing else, from 
cruel sarcasm.  I would argue that someone other than Snape--
Dumbledore, in this case--would be perfect for this.  Then, once 
Harry has a decent grasp of the skills, *then* he could graduate to 
the tougher task of working with Snape, which would, as you two have 
noted, help him prepare for the even more difficult prospect of 
facing Voldy himself.

For what it's worth.

Siriusly Snapey Susan