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

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 120083


Dungrollin:
>>> So don't blame it all on Snape, particularly when DD and Harry
have both accepted the blame for their various mistakes.<<<


SSSusan:
I want to start out by going on record as saying that I don't blame 
Snape totally.  Harry & DD share in the blame, as does the mere fact 
that Snape & Harry have a 4 ½-year history at this point in which 
they've developed a bit of a vicious cycle of expecting the worst 
and therefore bringing on the worst in each other.

I also want to note that I read another of Dung's posts downthread 
and saw the statement that she was mostly trying to point out that 
Snape didn't *deliberately* choose to teach Potter poorly [if I've 
paraphrased correctly].  This I agree with.  I do not believe that 
Snape told himself he wanted Harry to fail or any such thing.

That said, this particular part of Dungrollin's original post really 
struck me --

>>>My biggest problem with the idea that Snape didn't teach Harry
Occlumency properly, is Snape's motivation. Why on earth should
he deliberately omit vital instructions? Nobody (IIRC) seems to
have suggested a plausible motivation – but I doubt that any will
go as far as postulating ESE!Snape either.

On the other hand, Snape does have good and plausible motivations
for teaching Harry properly:
1. It's Snape's job to find out what Voldy and the DEs are up
to, not Harry's – let's stop him getting ideas above his
station.
2. Voldy may well be able to get at DD through Harry unless Harry is
able to shut him out of his mind. And Snape is loyal to DD.
3. Voldy may well be able to make Harry do things, (putting Harry in
danger) unless Harry is able to shut him out of his mind. And Harry
is the only one with the chance of beating Voldy for good.<<<


SSSusan:
I am reacting particularly to the bit about why Snape wouldn't teach 
Harry properly, especially since Harry's "the only one with the 
chance of beating Voldy for good."  My comment ties in with both the 
Occlumency situation and with Potions and is my biggest complaint 
about Snape with Harry as his student:  While Snape doesn't 
deliberately try to make Harry fail, he doesn't ask himself whether 
his methods are working with this all-important student either.  If 
it's REALLY that important that Harry succeed, whether it's Potions 
or Occlumency, because Harry is the Big Weapon in VW2, and if Snape 
is a White Hat or at least a man who wants Voldy taken down, then 
WHY can he not "retrain" himself to actually assess his teaching 
methods with this one bratty kid and determine if they're working?  
And as they're *not* working well, perhaps he should figure out what 
else he might do?  

Should Snape have to adjust his methods for one kid?  *Maybe* not, 
in a normal class under normal circumstances.  But Harry's not yer 
average student, and it's not a normal circumstance just now.  This 
is primarily where I fault Snape, in Occlumency & all-around.  Snape 
seems to feel it's more important to make sure Harry doesn't think 
too highly of himself than that he, Snape, figure out the best way 
to teach him.


Alla:
>>>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.<


SSSusan:
I think that Annemehr's on the right track.  If *you* were Harry and 
you were taking Occlumency with *Snape* at this point in your 
relationship with him, would you come in and say, "Hey, you know 
what?  I felt like shit after that last lesson.  Do you think 
something's wrong?"  No way I could hear that coming from Harry.  
He'd be too sure that Snape would just yell at him.

I mean, look at these two exchanges:

"How come I saw through the snake's eyes if it's
Voldemort's thoughts I am sharing?"
"Do not say the dark Lord's name!" spat Snape"


"I – am – making – an- effort," he said through
clenched teeth."
"I told you to empty yourself of emotion!"
"Yeah? Well, I am finding that hard at the moment," Harry
snarled.
"Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord!"
said Snape savagely. 


WHERE in these two scenes does Snape help him out?  Harry wants to 
know something vital – he's asking questions for once!!! – and Snape 
just yells at him for saying Voldemort's name and ignores the 
question.  Then, when Harry admits he's having a hard time, Snape 
yells at him *savagely*.  This is hardly going to engender in Harry 
a feeling that it's okay or good or wise to tell Snape he's 
struggling or to ask further questions.

Which leads rather to Snow's comment:
>>> Don't you think it would be almost essential for Harry to learn 
the Occlumency lessons under adverse conditions? After all, Harry 
would have to learn to be in control of his emotions or overcome his 
hatred to use Occlumency properly against Voldemort. Voldemort isn't 
going to stand there saying, "are you ready Harry, I'm going to 
attack your mind".<<<


SSSusan:
My answer is, simply, NO, I don't think that.  There are some things 
people can learn by jumping right into them.  But where there's an 
option, this ex-teacher thinks it's wisest to opt for a slow start 
w/ some measure of success before moving into the difficult, real-
life situation.  Kind of like Lupin's boggart!dementor simulation 
before Harry had to encounter the real thing.  It helps to 
understand the process, figure out what works, get a little 
confidence built up, then up the ante to what it might be like w/ 
Voldy.

Siriusly Snapey Susan