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

[KAREN OGBURN]

No: HPFGUIDX 120159


I'm a first time poster here so bear with me if I don't do a very good job of it. I'm also a new fan to the Harry Potter world so my take on things might be completely wrong here.

I read part of the OOTP because I've been reading everyone's comments on the subject, though I've probably missed a few so if this has been covered before please forgive.

I myself after OOTP grew to feel a bit sad for and like him a little more Snape, in seeing the images from his memory Harry saw I am led to think he is an abused person as a child and as a teenager so I'm left to wonder about him like everyone else.  But being that we are always kept wondering about him as a character is he really on the good side even though DD trusts him still leaves that unsure feeling.

Considering this I think about Harry...If you think on it consider his first 11 years of life. Unloved, abused by his Aunt, Uncle, Cousin.  He was left alone with nobody and nothing. To this I am thinking, isn't he abused also? Don't he and Snape have something in common?

It's no wonder Harry is now acting out and being irrational and angry, why wouldn't he be. If you think about it...say you adopt a child...An adopted 
child I would think would not want to do anything wrong..they would try to please and be perfect in fear of being rejected by new family.  But everyone makes mistakes and gets mad so eventually things are bound to happen and the child will relax and not try to be so perfect once they know they are somewhat safe.  So using this as an example, maybe Harry is coming out of that fear of being sent away and expelled from Hogwarts and finally letting his emotions out.  I could be completely wrong on this, it is just a thought.

 Now from the books we would say for 5 years he's had friends, done some interesting stuff and very brave stuff....But what kind of scar does he still have from all those years of no love and nobody caring for him. In a way he and Snape are a lot alike I think....but since we have little to go on about Snape's true nature or should I say how he got his true nature. I'm still left wondering.
But assuming he was an abused child it would stand to reason that he and Harry do have a lot in common...and I have noticed that people who are a lot alike tend to fight sometimes IRL.
But I am giving Snape the benefit of the doubt here and considering him a good guy till I read otherwise...well maybe good guy is too strong a word. hump...I don't know.

Most of the time in the Book OOTP I was left with the strong desire to slap 
some of the characters and tell them would you just please communicate...but I have thought that in my own life about people I know so..hum...Obviously the book is pretty good at capturing those moments.

I also in some way know how Harry feels...I also had a Teacher that was an 
evil greasy Git...so I can attest to how Potter feels and totally understand 
it, even now as an adult I have thoughts of being stuck in the man's class.  
So I am thinking there are just some people we can't get along with for 
whatever reason and Harry and Snape are just a pair that...even though have situations that seem similar they just rub each other the wrong way.

Perhaps Book 6 will clear up a lot of my ponderings and wonderings...I don't know. But anyway I hope my first post wasn't too lame...<hehe>

Karen