Yet another defense of Snape's Occlumency lessons (long)

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 120057


Most of you probably know I spread the blame for the failure of
Occlumency lessons around quite liberally.  I just have one or two
points to respond to.

 
> Alla replied:
> 
> Nope, blaming him for Sirius death is only aprt of the problem as
> you said yourself, Harry also tells Dumbledore that he felt worse
> after the lessons and he INDEED felt worse. 
> 
> Dungrollin now:
> But Dumbledore doesn't say "Goodness, was it really *worse* after 
> the lessons?  Snape can't have been teaching you properly..."
> does he?  He ignores it, knowing that it doesn't mean Snape was 
> guilty of anything.

Annemehr:
He didn't respond, because it was just *before* Harry said Snape made
it worse that Dumbledore said 'I have already said that it was a
mistake for me not to teach you myself, though I was sure, at the
time, that nothing could have been more dangerous than to open your
mind even further to Voldemort while in my presence -'  Either Harry
was expanding on that statement by saying Snape made it worse, or they
were talking past each other (or some of each). But in any case, it's
true: Occlumency lessons in themselves made Harry feel worse. It seems
very odd that he wasn't told about this, for the sake of not losing
any more trust in Snape, since Dumbledore knew it would be so.

> Alla:
> Remember this?
> <snipping quotes>
> Here is my question to you. If indeed feeling worse after the lesson
> is unavolidable side effect, which we have no proof of, why, oh why
> did Snape not WARNED Harry that he WILL feel worse?
> 
> Dungrollin:
> Now that's a good point, but by the same argument, why on earth 
> didn't Harry go to the next Occlumency lesson saying "I felt
> really dreadful after the last lesson, is that normal?" 
> 
Annemehr:
I suppose Harry assumed he would have been snarled at for admitting to
more scar pain and headaches, just as he was for seeing the DoM and
the room where Voldemort talked to Rookwood.  It would be like
admitting to Snape that he was failing.

Annemehr