HBP: Why I am 98.6% certain that...

[B.G.]

No: HPFGUIDX 136108

1) During the Occlumency "fiasco", I kept getting the impression that
Snape was really pushing Harry to get one single point; he even
shouts it out, something along the lines of "if I can do this to you,
imagine what it will be like when LV gives it a go!" (Does it show I
don't have the book with me??) Harry spends those sessions hating
Snape, but all the time he had it right there in front of him, that
his hate and anger were all getting in the way of *true* Defence
against Legilimency, because he could not *focus*. Harry spends
almost the entire OotP narrative in a haze of burning adolescent
anger. My take on this is that Snape was trying like mad to shake him
out of it, using the old "making-it-worse" trick; only it didn't
work... Was that, also, part of Dumbledore's idea? What do you guys
think?

2) The whole confrontation on the school grounds after Snape
supposedly AKs DD fits with my previous observation. Snape makes it
*look* like he's goading Harry, but he is in fact showing him where
he needs to shore up his skills in order to take on a DE, not to
mention LV himself. The first thing Harry'll need to tackle, IMHO, is
emotional control!! Think about it: DD was pretty good at this... Did
he channel Snape's and Harry's emotions to make certain both Harry
and Snape would carry on their set courses even after he had passed
on to the "Next Great Adventure"?

Dumbledore did *not* plead for his life. That, at least, I am sure 
of.

Snape's is out for Snape and it is best for Snape to help defeat 
LV.  He is well aware that LV holds no one close nor trusts anyone 
and those who trust LV come to a sticky end eventually.

Snape's style of teaching is deplorable - he thinks (I almost wrote 
feels - don't think Snape has much use for feelings) that expressing 
any feelings toward another is a sign of weakness.  By controlling 
all emotions he feels strong when it's his greatest weakness.  But 
Snape's last "advice", if Harry will heed it, will carry him into 
battle well armed - "Keep your mouth shut" (practice your non-verbal 
spells) "and your mind closed" (Occlumency).  Harry will think back 
about how he trusted The Half Blood Prince and thought him 
brilliant.  He would have burned it if he had known it was Snape.  
One of LV's weaknesses is he talks too much – likes to show off his 
cleverness and make people squirm, follower and foe alike.  He 
hasn't learned much in his confrontations with Harry – did he at the 
graveyard?   I doubt he will be able to help himself especially if 
Harry learned any taunting skills from Snape.

Harry will learn to control his emotions when dealing with evil and 
yet keep his heart open to love and be loved.  A tricky task for 
anyone.  DD taught this by example and in my heart I think Harry 
learned it – he just needs to discover it.  

My last post of the day - BG