The Second Voldemort War, Stage II

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 91089

Susan:
> > I would submit, however, that Snape [purposely?] did nothing 
to ASSIST Harry, either.  Neither did he DEMONSTRATE how to 
block the  legilimens spell NOR did he help Harry or give him 
time to clear  his  mind of thoughts/emotions. <<

*How*  would Snape demonstrate how to block legilimens? The 
only mind Harry could see inside of was Voldemort's, so how 
would Snape show Harry what he was doing? I don't think you 
can learn occlumency by demonstration anyway-- it's probably 
more like learning to ride a bicycle. You just have to keep trying, 
and falling,  till you get it. Harry learned to fight off the
Dementors the same way. And Lupin wasn't much more 
encouraging than Snape when you think about it; he kept telling 
Harry it was much too difficult for a third year.


Maybe you're thinking Harry should have been led through some 
mental discipline exercises, but Lupin, whose technique as a 
teacher is unassailable, doesn't take that approach to Harry's 
anti-Dementor lessons either. And to the extent that forming a 
pure intent is basic to all kinds of magic, shouldn't a fifth year 
know how to do that anyway?

> LizVega:
 
>> I have to agree with Susan on this one. Dumbledore himself 
says that  it was a mistake to allow Snape to teach Harry 
Occlumency- he should  have done it himself but was afraid of 
opening his mind to  Harry/Voldemort.<<

That doesn't mean Snape's technique was faulty--only that 
Dumbledore should have taught Harry *before* Voldemort 
returned to power. Then access to Dumbledore's mind wouldn't 
have been an issue.

LizVega:
 >I'm sorry, but if Dumbledore had told Harry why he needed to 
study Occlumency, he probably would've  made more of an effort 
with Snape-<

Harry *was* told by Snape: 

"[Voldemort] has realized that he might be able 
to access your thoughts and feelings in return."
"And he might try and make me do things? asked Harry.
"He might," said Snape, sounding cold and unconcerned.

Now of course, Snape's coolness and unconcern are necessary,  
since he has to keep his own thoughts blocked. But Harry was 
too busy feeling sorry for himself to grasp the significance of 
what he was being told.

LizVega: 
> I still don't think it makes sense that the alternative to 
> Dumbledore for the lessons was Snape. Why would 
>Dumbledore want  Snape, a double agent, to open up his mind 
>to Harry/Voldemort? 

Snape can keep Voldemort from accessing his mind, or he 
couldn't be a double agent in the first place. The only way it can 
work is if Voldemort knows that Snape has Dumbledore's 
confidence, but believes that Snape is really working for him, and 
passing disinformation to the Order. "Yes, Potter, that is my job." 
<g>

Pippin