A thought ....Occlumency

[kmcbears1]

No: HPFGUIDX 112499

Alex wrote:
> 
> > Dumbledore says at the end of OoP that he thought Snape would have
> > been able to put aside his feelings about Harry enough to teach 
him
> > Occlumency--this is a reasonable assumption on Dumbledore's part
> > because Snape *has* put his feelings aside in order to save Harry 
> from
> > mortal peril in the past.  Why he doesn't this time is up for 
grabs
> > (I'd say, either A) Dumbledore didn't give him all the 
information,
> > either, just said "I want you to do this."  or B) He just can't 
> handle
> > the intimacy of looking into Harry's mind and having Harry look 
> into his.)
> 
> 
> *toto* writes:

>   Or it could be a bit more complex, and that the few times he 
> *helped* Harry he did it because he wanted to prove to James that 
he 
> repayed him, and that he wasn't weak. After all, even if Snape 
> sometimes *help* Harry, he does it in such a way that humiliates 
> Harry. Plus, we know from canon that Snape is unable to think, even 
> in extreme sitiuations, when harry or one of the marauders (Lupin, 
> Sirius..) are concerned, as is shown by the numerous times Snape 
> refused to heed Harry's warning (maybe they could have caught 
Crouch 
> in gof, or Quirrel in ps, or......).
> 

Karen adds:
I agree Snape's method of teaching Occlumency left much to be 
desired.  But I think we need to lay some of the blame on Harry's 
curiousity.  

During the Occlumency lessons, I was reminded of Harry's Patronus 
lessons in POA.  (don't have my books so I will paraphrase from 
memory).  During the Patronus lessons, Harry scolds himself about 
wanting to hear his mother's voice.  Harry has to decide which is 
more important.  Hearing his mother's voice or learning the Patronus, 
he realizes that if he was ever going to master a Patronus he had to 
stop anticipating hearing his mother's voice.  I think the event is 
described in the books as "She's dead and nothing is going to bring 
her back."...The very next time he tries a Patronus, Lily's voice is 
muted "an echo of a scream".

In OotP, Harry wants to know what is at the end of the tunnel.  He 
never really tries to prevent the dreams.

I also think the other adults, Sirius, Lupin, DD, etc., need to take 
most of the blame because they never really explain to Harry that LV 
may be planting false visions in Harry's dream to make him go to the 
MoM.  In fact, at the end of OotP, I agree with DD that he is mainly 
to blame for the whole MoM fiasco.  IMO, he is also to blame for the 
failure of the Occlumency lessons because he did not give Harry a 
reason to learn.

- Karen