Who is the adult (Was: Who's to blame for Occlumency?)

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 100623

One my first night back, I've tried to read as many of the recent posts on this 
thread as I can, but I'm not seeing (or have missed) one simple fact that I 
cannot escape when pondering this topic.

Snape is supposed to be the adult. He has not behaved as one.

It is frankly getting really old, this constant "Harry looks like James, so he 
reminds me of what James did."

Snape knows very well that Harry has no conscious memory of James. He 
knows that Harry cannot possibly have learned any bad traits from James. 

He further knows that Harry's mother, on at least one occassion, tried to make 
Snape's life at Hogwarts a little easier. Does that not count for something? 
After all, Harry has Lily's eyes.

Harry was wrong to dive into the Pensieve, although I wonder how Snape 
would react if he found out how geniunely horrified Harry was at his father's 
and Sirius' actions?

Harry was wrong, ultimately, to not work on Occlumency in his spare time.

He had the adults in his life, Snape, Sirius, Lupin and Dumbledore telling him 
to learn Occlumency, though they didn't really say why. Only Snape, through 
insults, condescension and arrogance, shared much of anything.

But nonetheless, Sirius, Lupin and Dumbledore's reinforcement (as fleeting 
and secondhand as it was) should have moved Harry more.

I blame Harry for a great deal. He screwed up and deep down, I think he 
suspected he was screwing up because he felt compelled to cover up his lack 
of diligence when Hermione asked.

BUT... 

his mind felt weaker after Snape's lessons, which I still find very suspicious. 

he also had a very huge positive reinforcement for his visions, namely that 
Arthur Weasley's life was saved.

And Harry was 15. 

I know that's not good enough for some, but I submit that perhaps those some 
should try harder to remember what life as a 15-year-old was like. 

You are self-centered, stubborn and convinced you know as much or more 
than your elders. And Harry has four years worth of being a target, set apart 
from his peers, labeled by the scar on his head, and a target for the most evil 
wizard anyone can remember.

It's a wonder he's not MORE self-centered, frankly.

But Snape is not 15. 

Snape knows more of the master plan than Harry does. 

Snape also owes Dumbledore a great deal.

And with all that, Snape chose to walk away from the lessons. He chose to 
disobey a direct order from Dumbledore, knowing a great deal more about 
what was at stake, over what Dumbledore admits was a teenage grudge.

Snape's hate for a man Harry barely remembers, and a man who certainly 
had no influence on Harry's life, kept him from doing his job.

That is immaturity.

And Snape is not 15.

Darrin
-- "Lack of Diligence" would be a great name for a band.