Who's to Blame/Ending Occulmency/Long

[dzeytoun]

No: HPFGUIDX 100624

> Demetra:
> I think you're on to something here.  I think that Dumbledore 
> didn't insist that Snape restart the Occlumency lessons because 
> that particular mission was accomplished.  
> 
> I think it was Kneasy who said that Dumbledore and Snape are 
> analogous to the good cop/bad cop.  I think that's true.  In this 
> case, Snape keeps his cover as the bad guy who ended the Occlumency 
> lessons (and don't get me wrong, I think Sevvie gets perverse 
> enjoyment out of playing that part) and no one is on to the fact 
> that Dumbledore's goal with the Occlumency lessons was met. 


I'm sorry if this sounds rude, but I've seen this theory on several 
lists and it always strikes me as a desperate attempt to justify 
Snape's failure by blatantly overreaching canon and engaging in wild 
speculation running directly counter to the available evidence.

Consider: Dumbledore himself says it was a mistake to let Snape teach 
Harry, Sirius and Remus both believe that Dumbledore will be furious 
when he finds out that Snape has abandoned the lessons, Dumbledore 
speaks "heavily" when talking about Snape's actions - a sign of 
disappointment and other intense emotions, Dumbledore certainly is 
not confident when Voldemort possesses Harry in the MoM that Harry 
has learned what he needs to know - in fact he is fearful for the 
first time in the duel.

Now, to accede to this theory we have to assume that all of this 
representative of Dumbledore lieing, being an extremely good actor, 
and being extremely good at fooling EVERYONE around him, except 
perhaps for Snape.  That is a wild and unjustified assumption, 
directly counter to all the evidence and made in a seemingly intense 
desire to somehow excuse Snape for his obvious blunders, arrogance, 
and ineptitude.

Why did Dumbledore not just order Snape to continue Occlumency 
lessons?  For the simple reason that he realized that he, Dumbledore, 
had made a grave error and that to persist would not only fail to 
teach Harry Occlumency, but would only make a bad emotional and 
psychological situation much worse for both Snape and Harry.

Even if we accede to the fanciful and totally unsupported speculation 
about Snape and Dumbledore having some Machiavellian drama going on, 
this means that the people around Harry are arrogant, manipulative, 
unethical, and ruthless.  In other words, he is perfectly justified 
in not trusting them and refusing to accept that they have his best 
interests at heart.

Either way, although Harry bears some responsibility in this, neither 
Snape nor Dumbledore can be excused from major mistakes.

Dzeytoun