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

[boyd_smythe]

No: HPFGUIDX 108666

> DZEYTOUN wrote <snip>:
> > 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."

> Then SSSusan wrote:
> I think Dzeytoun is right.  
> 
> There are times when you say, "I'm just too busy!"  And there are 
> times when you say, "I don't CARE how busy I am--I'll do whatever I 
> have to do to get this done!"
> 
> Clearly, THIS is one of those latter times.  I mean, the war is 
> building; Sirius is dead; even Fudge knows/acknowledges that Voldy's 
> back; Harry failed at Occlumency and Voldy was able to manipulate 
his 
> mind & his behaviors.  This is getting SERIOUS. <snip>

boyd:

Hey, I agree with both of you that DD *should* have taught Harry 
personally. As you both say, this is pretty important.

But what I'm wondering aloud is why he *doesn't*?

My view (going along with the BADD ANGST boundary-respecting DD), is 
that DD feels it was a mistake that he didn't prompt Harry to ask DD 
to teach him personally. Let's remember, this is the same DD who did 
not actually tell H&H what to do with the time turner in PoA, despite 
the fact that an innocent life was held in the balance. This is also 
the same DD who, rather than telling Harry what to do prior to each of 
the three Triwizard tasks, instead allowed him to try on his own. DD 
just does not meddle in other people's business unless they ask him. 
In other words, he allows people to make their own choices.

Another view that you may want to consider is that DD is plotting 
here. By not teaching Harry himself, he is *allowing* the connection 
with LV to grow for some as-yet-unknown purpose. This is the MAGIC 
DISHWASHER theory of DD's actions. Very subversive, by the way, so 
it's pretty fun. Not my cup of tea, though.

Of course, you can maintain the illusion <grin> that old Albus merely 
made a mistake here in assigning Harry's most hated teacher to teach 
him the most important skill of his life, then did not correct the 
mistake for months. Sure, and Umbridge is none the worse for wear from 
her encounter with the centaurs, right?

--boyd