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

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 120123


I, Del, wrote earlier:
" 1. How EVER was Snape supposed to know that Harry's scar would hurt
more after the Occlumency lessons??? Nobody has ever dealt with such a
scar, and Harry didn't tell Snape what he was feeling. Maybe if he'd
told him, Snape would have been worried."

Lupinlore answered:
" And yet Dumbledore seems to know a lot about it, and to have
expected certain things.  Now, he may just be guessing, but his
knowledge would seem to indicate that such things are not at all
unknown in the Wizarding World.  If so Snape, as a "superb Occlumens,"
should be aware of such precedents and warn Harry about them."

Del replies:
I personally think that DD's knowledge comes from two very specific
sources:
- Harry himself, through Legilimency and through DD's mysterious
ability to know many things that happen in the castle
- Hermione

But Snape has no access to either of these sources. Well, he is a
Legilimens, but he doesn't seem to be as good as DD, and he most
probably wasn't looking for that piece of information anyway.

Lupinlore wrote:
"In this case Snape CERTAINLY should have forseen such a development 
and warned Harry."

Del replies:
I agree. But somehow I don't picture Snape doing that kind of thing.
Lupin would have, who gave Harry chocolate any time he fainted. But
Snape wouldn't care.

Lupinlore wrote:
"What's your point?  What Harry has or hasn't done has nothing to do 
with what one may expect Snape to do."

Del replies:
Oh I agree :-) I was just amused by the coincidence.

Lupinlore wrote:
" And besides, given that Severus has shown no ability to control his
own emotions where Harry is concerned, Harry's example only points to
the dangers of Snape's neurotic hysteria."

Del replies:
I agree. And once again I must regret the totally inappropriate and
irresponsible attitude the WW in general and DD in particular seem to
have concerning mental and emotional health. Expecting Snape to get
over such deeply-rooted emotional problems on his own is totally
unreasonable IMO. Snape showed from Day 1 that he is unable to deal
sanely with Harry : someone should have done something about that
situation a long time ago, instead of expecting him to just snap out
of it, and worse, forcing the two of them to work together.

Del