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

[rowena_grunnionffitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 100718

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "darrin_burnett" 
<bard7696 at a...> wrote:
> 
> > 
> >    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? 

   How about by stealing Snape's supplies to brew illegal potions, 
splashing engorgement potion on half the class in the process? And 
Harry's flagrant disregard for rules is something that concerns even 
DD, not to mention the kid's smart mouth. Basically the two of them 
got off to a bad start, (which was Snape's fault) and went downhill 
from there.
 
> 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.

   Ah, but it wasn't just Quirrell was it? Voldy is there inside Q - 
and I've wondered for some time how SS explained that away.
 
> 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.

   The point is *Snape* doesn't know Harry's in no danger! (nor do 
Harry, Hermione and Ron) he goes into the Shrieking Shack believing 
he will be at imminent risk from a desperate outlaw wizard and his 
accomplice. Intent counts for something here.
  
> Am I missing another time?

   As a matter of fact yes. You are forgetting that Snape goes into 
the Dark Forest to search for Harry and co. when they don't return to 
the school - unaware that they have gone off to rescue Sirius. If 
that isn't risking his life I don't know what is.

    
> 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.

   Glad that Harry has seen one of the most humiliating moments of 
his life? I don't think so. Harry's violation of Snape's privacy goes 
way beyond a mere 'screw up'. Harry knew the pensieve held thoughts 
Snape didn't want him to see, he deliberately intruded on the off 
chance that they might contain the information he wants so badly 
about the DoM and, like eavesdroppers, learned more than he wanted to 
know. Serves him right.
 
   The fact is Snape could have gone on teaching Harry occlumency til 
the cows came home and it would have done not a lick of good. Harry 
didn't want to close his mind to Voldy - he wanted to know what was 
behind the door. No number of classes would have changed that.

   It all comes back to Harry I'm afraid.