Simple!Snape? / Occlumency, Legilimency

[snow15145]

No: HPFGUIDX 124910


SSSusan:

> So, what about the first in my list [potions] and, especially, the 
> last [teaching Harry ABOUT Voldemort]?  
> 
> Lupinlore has gone a different direction in answering me -- he's 
> arguing that Snape may not know about the prophecy.  That's not 
> something you argued here.  So if you believe Snape IS in the know, 
> then why hasn't he tried to help Prophecy Boy by giving him all the 
> insights he can about Voldemort?  
> 
> Siriusly Snapey Susan, still hoping *someone* will take on this 
> question with more than a "Well, Snape's a man who has a hard time 
> letting go of his grudges" answer.

Snow:

I'll take a stab at this one Susan. The most logical answer to me 
would be that Dumbledore requested, as he has done in the past to the 
Order members, that Harry not be told too much. 

Dumbledore has this thing for letting others find out for themselves 
what's what. An example would be Dumbledore asking Harry not to 
mention what he had seen in the Pencieve of Neville's parents but to 
allow Neville to explain if and when he makes a choice to disclose 
that information. Another example would be when Harry asks Dumbledore 
why he trusts Snape and Dumbledore's reply was that it was between 
himself and Snape. This is all relevant to the choice concept that 
Dumbledore promotes. To Dumbledore, it is Neville and Snape's choice 
as to who to tell what to. 

Now how does this all relate to the question as to why Snape would 
not have told Harry all he could have about Voldemort. If Harry was 
told everything before he could comprehend it, it may affect his 
choice and in following suit of, should you tell someone else's 
background or let that person disclose that for himself. 
If you tell a small child something they cannot sufficiently 
comprehend that child may come to a childish conclusion. If the small 
child is given small doses of what they need to know as they grow, 
they are better able to understand the adult-like comprehension of 
the situation. 

If Harry were given, straightaway, all the information that he now 
knows about Voldemort, what might Harry's choices have been at eleven 
years old?

Well, I guess that's how I see it anyway.

Snow