Snape stopping the lessons (was: Dumbledore "failing" Harry )

[Sydney]

No: HPFGUIDX 119975


 Betsy wrote: 

> (Frankly, I think Snape's response to Harry's snooping is a 
> bit bizzare.  Not the anger, but the refusal to continue the 
> lessons.  If anything was OoC, this was, and I hope to see more on it 
> in book 6.) 

I always assumed that Snape stopped because he couldn't trust himself
not to hurt Harry next time they were locked in the dangerous intimacy
of the lessons.  Leg/Occ already had Harry on his knees with a
splitting headache;  it seems like the sort of thing that requires
pretty delicate control on the part of the Legilimens in order not to
do actual damage (Obliviate is probably a cousin spell, I reckon).  I
imagined Snape sent a message to Dumbledore saying, "sorry, boss, I
know it's vital but the next time I'm alone with my figurative fingers
around that kid's throat, so help me I don't know what I might do."

There's three reasons I think this.  First, the exploding jar,
arm-grabbing thing.  Snape has NEVER been physically violent; even in
the Shrieking Shack, he just yelled at Harry to get out of the way.  I
think he's someone whose anger issues are so extreme that what we've
seen of him IS his version of iron self-control.  His capacity for
violence is something he is extremely aware of, and I think he found
his loss of control in even touching Harry quite frightening.

Second, the whole silent-treatment thing.  Harry found it relaxing,
but personally I would have taken it as an extremely ominous
development, like the barking doberman that stops barking and starts
intensely staring... yikes!  I think that meant, Snape is not trusting
himself to interact with Harry AT ALL.  Snape doesn't seem like
someone who does passive-aggression!  

Third, there's the fact that despite Lupin and Sirius announcing their
immediate intention of speaking to Snape, but nothing ever comes of
it.  I don't think the Order would have just let it go, unless it was
pretty clear it would be worse to push on with the lessons than to
stop them.

This is what I took from it anyways;  it never occured to me that he
was just being spiteful.  Surely he'd just have then cranked up the
humiliation factor of the lessons themselves, not stopped them
altogether?  And I agree with Betsy, it's out of character for Snape
to be irresponsible.

-- Sydney