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

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 100662


> 
>    Granted Snape's initial hostility to a child is petty and unworthy 
> but after five years Harry has given SS plenty of reason to dislike 
> him for himself, not his father. 


How? By saving the Philosopher's Stone when Dumbledore was tricked out of 
the castle?  By defeating the Basilisk when every teacher, including Snape, 
was at a loss on how to do it? By keeping Snape from leading an innocent 
man to his execution? (Or by costing Snape the Order of Merlin?) By escaping 
Voldemort? By saving Arthur Weasley? 

Snape's hatred of Harry is petty and unworthy the entire time.


Secondly Snape does *not* let his 
> feelings interfere with his duty to the Order or to Harry as a 
> teacher, (unsympathetic and bullying as he is he has risked his own 
> life to save Harry's at least twice, and the kid certainly has 
> learned his potions as we see at the OWLS ;)

When? He didn't risk anything in SS/PS. He muttered a counter-curse until 
Hermione could distract Quirrell. Certainly no risk to Snape, because Quirrell 
wasn't gonig to attack him in full view of the world.

Snape didn't save Harry from anything in PoA. Maybe he thought he was, but 
Harry had nothing to fear from Sirius and Snape was unconscious by the time 
Harry needed saving from Lupin Wolf and the Dementors.

In fact, Snape's blundering, ego, and refusal to listen to reason very nearly 
cost Sirius his life, which would not have made Harry's life any better.

Am I missing another time?

 Snape doesn't abandon 
> the occlumency lessons until Harry mortally offends him by flagrantly 
> violating his privacy. In fact a shaky sort of rapport seems to be in 
> the offing as both learn more of the other through seeing their 
> memories - until Harry blows everything out of the water by prying.
> 

I agree, Harry was wrong to do that. It was a colossal screw-up. Of course, 
had Snape paused for a second, he'd have seen, and still could see, how 
horrified Harry was at what he saw. If Snape knew how much that shook 
Harry's view of James, he might be GLAD Harry did it. It did more damage to 
Harry-James than any ranting Snape has ever done.

But Snape still abandoned his post at a crucial time and it contributed to the 
mess at the end of OoP. Dumbledore should be blamed for allowing it to 
happen. Harry should be blamed for not studying Occlumency better and of 
course, Kreacher and V-Mort bear the most blame for manipulating the 
situation in the first place.

But Snape put his hatred above the cause. He knows, maybe as much as any 
Order member, what is at stake. He owes D-Dore big for that second chance. 

And he abandoned his post.

And like I said, he is not 15.

Darrin