Draught of Peace (Was: CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 12, "Professor Umbridge"

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 91296

> Sue wrote:
> > Why didn't the POTIONS MASTER suggest a Draught of Peace to 
Harry 
> > when he was having trouble clearing his mind.  He *knew* Harry 
was 
> > having dreams, he knew Harry was angry and having a hard time 
coping 
> > with everything that was happening at school.  It just seems 
like 
> > another example of how as much as Snape could help, he doesn't.


> Carol:
> I think that the Draught of Peace would have interfered with 
Harry's
> ability to concentrate during the occlumency lessons. He has to 
learn
> to control his emotions on his own, without what amounts to a drug 
to
> help him (not to mention that the Draught of Peace is very 
dangerous
> and can lead to a comalike trance if taken in excess--and that 
Harry
> would not have access to it in a dangerous situation).


Jen: This is a good point, Carol. Potioncat said earlier in the 
thread, why don't we see more potions in the stories? Does the WW 
consider a potion like the Draught of Peace the equivalent of modern-
day Valium, and thus only used if prescibed? Actually, I guess the 
Calming Potion Hannah Abbott gets from Madam Pomfrey would be more 
like a tranquilizer.  You know, the more I think about it, Snape has 
a challenging job. He seems to be one of few people who knows these 
complex potions, yet there aren't laws (we know of) in place for the 
procurement of the potions. That sets up situations like Umbridge 
demanding Veritaserum from Snape any old time she pleases. OTOH, 
this is just one more example of the danger inherent in living in 
the WW, where life is so different from the Muggle world.

Carol:
> I've already argued (I know you don't agree) that Snape presents 
Harry
> with all of the information he needs (he defines occlumency and
> legilimency and indicates that Harry is endanger of having LV enter
> his mind) and that the only way to learn occlumency is through
> practice, just as the only way (unfortunately!) to learn to defend
> yourself from an Imperius Curse is to be Imperio'd and struggle to
> fight it off. Snape *must* use the methods he uses. There is no 
other
> way. And Harry must control his own emotions, not come to lessons
> angry with Cho and deflect that anger onto Snape. When Snape 
says "You
> are giving me weapons!" Harry ought to listen. (If Snape really 
wanted
> to hurt Harry, he would say nothing and *use* the weapons.)

Jen: I've never felt like Snape wanted to harm Harry. Obviously he 
has very mixed feelings about him, from wanting him expelled in POA, 
to assisting with Occlumency in OOTP. Of course, Snape has something 
to gain with the Occlumency b/c he will be very much at risk if LV 
gets into Harry's mind and finds out info about Snape. There's 
obviously a lot more latitude given to teachers and students in the 
WW, and that doesn't bother me. What else can you do in a world 
where people hex each other in the hallways, turn kids into ferrets 
and there are hands-on dark creature lessons?!? Once again it's a 
different world with different constraints.

Carol: 
> I really believe that Harry must learn these lessons the hard way 
and
> that Snape explained as much of the process and the reason for
> learning the lessons as he could without disobeying Dumbledore's
> orders. Snape's cold manner was really controlled antipathy and
> pretended indifference to the contents of Harry's mind. Notice 
that he
> showed surprise, not anger when Harry hit him with a stinging hex, 
and
> actually praised him (coldly) for protecting himself. Harry, OTOH,
> made a great show of disrespect, hesitating before saying "sir" and
> emphasizing it to show that he didn't mean it. He made no attempt 
to
> control his emotions in any of the lessons and always had some 
excuse
> not to practice closing his mind--as he admitted himself in DD's
> office in the final chapter of OoP.

Jen: Harry *does* have a tendency to learn things the hard way, 
although in OOTP there are several instances where he waited to act, 
something he's not known for. One example was agreeing with 
Hermione's plan to check if Sirius was still at Grimmauld before 
heading to the MOM. I also think Harry's tendency to learn the hard 
way is part of why Snape teaches him the way he does, with no 
apologies. But the part that always gets to me about Snape is the 
fact that he is the adult. He never gives Harry a break for being a 
kid. Even given the differences in the WW, adults still have more 
knowledge, experience and self-control (hopefully). 

Carol:
>> I see some hope in all of this that, despite Harry's belief that 
he
> will "never forgive Snape. Never!" he will realize, first, that 
Snape
> is not responsible for Sirius's death and, second, that despite 
their
> mutual dislike, Snape has already taught him a great deal, and it
> might be worth his while to listen to him and accord him the 
respect
> that his knowledge and his work for the Order (if not his teaching
> methods) deserve. If Harry listens to Snape and follows directions,
> Snape will have no grounds for criticism and no reason to give him
> zeroes. 

Jen: Harry says that, but even he doesn't buy it. He knows deep down 
that he played a role in Sirius' death and that pain caused his 
outburst against Snape. Something will force them together again in 
the next book. I disagree that Snape won't have grounds for 
criticism, though! He will always find something to despise about 
Harry, even if it's forced. For some reason he *must* despise Harry 
and I'm very curious to find out why.