Occlumency the right answer? (was: Yet another defense ....)

[littleleahstill]

No: HPFGUIDX 120094


Snow:
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.
Leah:

I read this, nodding in agreement, and then thought, 'Hang on a 
minute, what sort of emotions was Harry struggling to control when 
Voldemort finally broke through?'  He's drifting off in the History 
of Magic exam, actually more or less emptying his mind of emotion 
while staring at Parvati's hair.  That description of the long black 
hair, with the little lights in it, reminds me of a crystal ball, or, 
rather, an obsidian mirror, objects that are used to focus the mind  
away from day to day life and emotions, so that it can receive 
emanations from 'the far side'. Then Harry wishes he was a Leglimens, 
so that he could read Parvati's mind, and he begins a sort of mental 
wandering, this time looking at the blackness of his closed 
eyes...trolls, goblins, conferences,.... and there's Voldemort just 
coming in quietly through the open door.  No uncontrolled emotions, 
no wallowing in memories, no provocation.  It's not until this vision 
is well under way that Harry feels emotion and by then, it's too late.

Let's look for a moment at Dumbledore's explanation of Occlumency 
which Snow quoted earlier: 
"It is true, however, that those who have mastered Legilemency are
able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their
victims and to interpret their findings correctly. The Dark Lord, for
instance, almost always knows when somebody is lying to him. Only
those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut down those feelings and
memories that contradict the lie
"

Dumbledore and Snape need to know Occlumency; Voldemort would be 
quite interested in delving into their minds.  Voldemort doesn't care 
about delving into Harry's mind- he wants Harry in HIS mind.  He 
doesn't seem to care what Harry might know about DD, about the Order, 
about Snape.  All he wants is to show Harry things- he wants Harry to 
read his mind.

DD thinks Occlumency is the answer because he fears Voldemort will 
use Harry as a spying device on the Order, but Harry is in fact a 
spying device on Voldemort. They, and we, know that Harry likes to 
sift through pensieves and that he can access Snape's memories even 
when they're still in his head.  DD may have thought the Bertha 
Jorkins warning was enough, and Snape doesn't report otherwise.

Harry didn't need to be taught to shut doors, to be an Occlumens. He 
needed to be taught how, when he delves into minds, 'to interpret his 
findings correctly'.  He needs to be taught how to be a Leglimens.

Leah