Stopping Occlumency (was: Lupin's resentment)

[Julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 93986

"potioncat" wrote:
> There are a couple of events that even I cannot defend or explain.  
> One is when he makes the comment about Hermione's teeth (talk about 
> the kettle calling the cauldron rusty!)
> The other is when he stops occlumency with Harry.

I'm curious about the ending of the occlumency lessons.  I never took 
that scene as meaning the end of the Occlumency lessons was solely 
Snape's fault.  I've seen this comment posted a couple of times that 
Snape refused to continue teaching Harry occlumency.  But I'm 
wondering: is it actually cannon that Snape actually **refused** to 
continue teaching Harry occlumency?  Or are we taking Harry's words 
at face value and assuming its solely Snape's doing.  After all Harry 
is more than happy to discontinue the lessons, and to keep dreaming 
of the door.  

Yes, Snape was utterly enraged to find Harry sneaking a peak at a 
humiliating episode of Snape's youth. But Snape doesn't actually 
say 'that's it you sneaky little brat, this is the last lesson I'll 
ever give you, not only do you not practice but you've invaded my 
personal memories. I'm not going to teach you any more.'  What Snape 
does say, in a moment of enraged stress, is "Get out, get out, I 
don't want to ever see you in this office again!" (OotP US ed. 650).  
Snape doesn't actually say 'I won't teach you,' and he doesn't ban 
him from the potions classroom, only from his office, which would be 
his sanctuary and private lair.  And Harry has just violated its 
security, in the brief moments he was alone there.  Snape doesn't 
*do* anything to Harry, he just throws him out (which might have been 
for the best since, not liking Harry to begin with, I'm sure as 
enraged as he was he was tempted to retaliate).

So Harry flees the office and a very angry Snape.  Its not the first 
time he's seen Snape angry.  But he is confused and somewhat shocked 
by the new conflicting evidence that James and Sirius weren't 
perfect.  And Snape is a reminder of that, Snape is their victim.

The first person Harry mentions the end of lessons to is Hermione, 
but he doesn't say Snape won't teach him, he says that Snape said 
Harry was fine on his own now that he knew how(p. 651).  Harry tells 
Remus and Sirius (p. 672) that Snape "told me he'd never teach me 
Occlumency again..."  (which isn't really what was literally said). 
While those two react with alarm (or anger in Sirius' case) and 
insist the lessons continue, they don't provide Harry with any real 
answers or ways to understand James'& Sirius' bullying or Snape's 
victimization.  Harry much latter tells Dumbledore (p 833) 
that "Snape stopped giving me Occlumency lessons!...He threw me out 
of his office!"  To which Dumbledore replies "I am aware of it."  

I suspect that Dumbledore's awareness might play a part in the end of 
the lessons.  

After the blow up and Snape's banning him from his office, both Harry 
and Snape are at fault. Neither one seize the initative to continue.  
In the short term Snape gives Harry the silent treatment in potions 
class --essentially avoidance -- which seems to my mind the way an 
embarassed Snape might react. He's supposed to be the adult and he 
totally lost it and tossed Potter out. Also: 1)Snape's probably 
berating himself for leaving Harry, whom he doesn't trust anyway, 
alone in his office with the pensive; 2)Although Snape's forbidden 
gossip, if taunted Harry would react and spill to the other students 
what he saw, embarrasing Snape further; 3) Snape might realize that 
he's still so angry that he doesn't dare deal with Harry; A time-out 
might just be the best thing for both of them, allowing each to cool 
down.

And Harry doesn't ask for lessons despite the danger and Hermione and 
Lupin and Sirius's urging.  But there's a another possibility: Snape 
might have spoken with Dumbledore ('members of the order have more 
efficent means of communication') about what happened (or Remus Lupin 
who said he would).  Dumbledore told Harry at the end that he knew 
the lessons had stopped, despite the need for Harry to learn and 
practice occlumency.  And Snape is pretty clear that Harry's not 
practicing.  So Dumbledore might have allowed the pause or end to 
stand.

I'm not looking to make excuses for Snape, because the Professor 
definately dropped the ball by not insisting that Harry appear again 
for a lesson--perhaps somewhere away from the temptation of the 
pensive, and perhaps after a short breather and time to simmer down. 
But it was only six weeks before the O.W.L.s and the adults would 
have know that Harry would be busy preparing for the tests.

Dumbledore had arranged for the lessons and tried to impress on Harry 
during the abortive raid at Hogwarts their importance. Since 
Dumbledore is always watching out for Harry, I have a hard time 
believing that he couldn't have ordered Snape to resume them, after 
all it was for Harry's (and hence everyone else's) safety.  

Dumbledore admits to making some mistakes by trying to protect 
Harry's happiness.  He has come to love Harry and wants to spare him 
as much as possible despite the prophecy.  Dumbledore might also
want to spare Severus Snape, whom he has also watched 
grow up.  Dumbledore tells Harry that Snape's "wounds run too deep 
for the healing" and who was "[unable to] overcome his feelings about 
[Harry's] father" ? (p.833-34)  

Harry says the lessons are difficult, they make his scar hurt worse, 
and he is brimming with anger and suspicions about Prof. Snape's true 
loyalties (egged on by Ron), pretty much thinks he hates Snape (after 
Sirius' death he really does) but Snape also finds being around Harry 
stressful first because of the past with James, and now probably due 
to Harry being Harry. 
 
Inky/Julie
who suspects that disappointing Dumbledore will be another of Snape's 
wounds.