Stopping Occlumency (was: Lupin's resentment)

[Ava Gordon]

No: HPFGUIDX 93999

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Julie" <inky_quill at h...> 
wrote:
         <portions omitted>

> 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.'  

       Not that I would blame him, personally, but that's absolutely 
true.
        <snip>

> 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.

    And, of course, a reminder to Snape, of his victim-status.  It 
would not be at all surprising if at least a factor in Snape's 
turning DE had to do with looking for a means to turn the tables.  
To a young wizard accustomed to being bullied, being accepted(?) 
into the bullies' fold must have seemed like a distinct change for 
the better.

> 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). 

  A thought - what Harry says to Hermione seems to be a cover-up - 
imagine what Hermione would think if she knew what Harry had done!  
By the time he talks to Lupin & Sirius, it's all Snape's fault.  By 
the end of the book, of course, in Harry's mind, pretty much 
EVERYTHING is Snape's fault.  I can't help wondering if we've 
reached a nadir, or if things are going to get much worse before 
they get better (assuming they will get better eventually).  
Personally, I think the latter.


> 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.  

      No they didn't, did they?  Sirius even found it all rather 
amusing, didn't he?

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.  

       Never can figure out what Dumbledore does or doesn't know.  
If he knew about half the things we would think he knows about, 
you'd think he'd have domne twice as much to prevent or change or 
fix them.

         <snip>
 
> 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.

  Of course he's embarrassed - and angry - and allowing a cool down 
is actually very sensible, as you point out.  There may be some 
childishness in his behavior (of course the "Whoops!" might qualify 
in that, even though it's hilarious), but all in all, he seems to 
behave a whole lot more grown-up than Sirius, who actively 
encourages Harry to engage in forbidden and dangerous behavior. 

> 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.

                <snip>  
  And what did DD ever do to attempt to mediate a reconciliation?  
Wouldn't that have been a nice idea?

    - Ava