Snape and Occlumency

[inkling108]

No: HPFGUIDX 121574


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "eggplant9998" 
<eggplant9998 at y...> wrote:
> 
> Harry said Snape's Occlumency lessons weaken his mind to 
Voldemort's 
> attacks rather than strengthened it, he insisted this was a fact 
> time and again right up to and including the end of book 5. I 
think 
> Snape was (perhaps unconsciously) sabotaging the lessons because 
he 
> couldn't stand somebody he hated as much as Harry having something 
> as powerful as Occlumency. I think that's why Snape always made 
sure 
> Harry was as angry as possible before each lesson even though 
having 
> a calm mind was essential in learning the subject. When Harry has 
a 
> teacher that actually wants him to learn (Dumbledore probably) 
I'll 
> bet he'll pick up Occlumency in one day, maybe less.


Inkling chimes in:

The more I think about it the more I conclude that Snape was 
actually serving LV during these lessons.  He opened up Harry's mind 
so much that LV was able to penetrate his mind during the first 
lesson (Harry hears "a voice coming out of him" simultaneously with 
his scar hurting).   A few hours later, LV was able to penetrate 
Harry's mind for the first time while Harry was still awake, in such 
a powerful way that "He did not know where he was, whether he was 
standing or lying down, he did not even know his own name."

I recently read a essay in Galadriel Waters' latest book, The Plot 
Thickens, by a German fan with the screen name Stic.  The essay is 
called Voldemort's Pawns and it that contends that what made LV the 
happiest he had been in fourteen years that night of the first 
lesson was not the Death Eaters release, but that Snape reported he 
was working on opening Harry Potter's mind.  This makes sense to 
me.  After all, what has been LV's raging obsession for fourteen 
years?  Not the Death Eaters.

My speculation is that it might have gone something like this -- 
Voldemort decides to test the results of Snapes lesson, finds he has 
unprecendented and powerful access, and is overjoyed.  Cause and 
effect, and not, as Harry supposed, just tuning in to something that 
was going on independent of him.

Notice how cleverly JKR raises the possibility of Snape deliberately 
opening Harry's mind.  She hides it in plain sight by mentioning it  
in such a way that it is immediately overlooked.  First she has Ron 
argue the point and Hermione do the Oh-Ron-you're-always-wrong-about-
Snape thing.  Then Harry himself tells Dumbledore after the battle 
at the MoM, but he includes it in a rush of complaints about Snape, 
finishing with the fact that Snape stopped giving him lessons.  "I 
am aware of it," replies Dumbledore to the complaint about the 
lessons ending, and then remarks that he should have known better 
than to suppose Snape could overcome his feelings about James.  
We're left uncertain as to whether the bit about Snape opening 
Harry's mind registered with DD in the emotions of the moment.  
Certainly he does not respond to it. 

Should DD give Harry occlumency lessons in HBP, he may actually give 
Harry a method for closing his mind, something Snape did not 
provide.  If he learns that Snape never properly taught Harry how to 
close his mind, will he begin to be uneasy about his trusted spy?  
(Obviously this assumes that there is, in fact, a method for 
occlumency, but it makes sense that there would be -- contrast 
Lupin's patronus lessons with Snape's vaugue "close your mind" 
instructions)

Finally there's JKR's constant reminders that we shouldn't think 
Snape is too nice, and the hints at a redemption in Book 7.  Who 
needs redemption? Only one who has sinned.

Inkling (who loves Snape, has very reluctantly come to these 
suspicions, and would love to be argued out of them)