Harry's scar , vulnerability, and Occlumency (Long)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 121923


Alla wrote:
> <snip comment and part of quote>
> "Nowadays, however, his scar hardly 
> ever stopped prickling, and he often felt lurches of annoyance or 
> cheerfulness that were unrelated to what was happening to him at the 
> time, which were always accompanied by a particularly painful twinge 
> from his scar. He had the horrible impression that he was slowly 
> turning into a kind of aerial that was tuned in to tiny fluctuations 
> in Voldemort's mood, and he was SURE (emphasis mine) that he could 
> date this increased sensitivity firmly from his first lesson with 
> Snape" - OOP, p.554, paperback, american edition.
> 
> 
> So, it seems to me that even if Harry was vulnerable before, which 
> eh of course was, his vulnerability GREATLY increased since the 
> first lesson.
> 
> I find it strange.

Carol responds:
First, I don't count increased prickling as "greatly increased." But
bear in mind that the prickling relates to Voldemort's desire to get
Harry to get to the MoM and pick up the Prophecy orb. Harry starts
having the dream both before Occlumency but several things happen that
make the dreams, and the prickling, more intense. First, Voldemort
finds out about the connection between him and Harry through the dream
about Mr. Weasley (which made Harry sicker than anything that happened
after Occlumency). At this time, too, Harry starts getting the urge to
bite DD like a snake, making DD think it would be better for Snape to
give Harry the lessons than for him to do so. Then LV finds out that
only he and Harry can pick up the Prophecy. And on the very night that
the Occlumency lessons begin, Voldemort finds out that his DEs have
escaped, providing him with a way to kill Harry (if he can only lure
him to the MoM) without being at the MoM himself. None of these things
has any connection with Snape, but all of them add up to an
increasingly urgent desire on Voldemort's part to get into Harry's
head and make him finish that dream.

Naturally Harry dates the increased sensitivity to the first
Occlumency lesson. That's the point when Voldemort starts pushing him
harder. As I pointed out in another post, Snape does not force the MoM
idea out of Harry's head or put it in; Harry himself puts together his
real memory of the corridor and the dreams he's been having. This
discovery in itself increases his desire to have the dreams, and he is
certainly putting no effort into the Occlumency, so Snape's intrusions
into his mind are greater and have more effect than they would have if
he'd been practicing.

Another thing. You emphasize "Harry was SURE." That to me is a
giveaway that Harry's wrong, just like "Harry knew he was dead" and 
"harry heard Bellatrix's triumphant scream but knew it meant nothing,"
both of which are just plain wrong. "Harry knew" or "Harry was sure"
is often a clue that Harry is mistaken.

Carol earlier:
>  
> Conclusion: Snape is *not* trying to open up Harry's mind to
> Voldemort. 

> Alla responded:
> 
> I think I showed that exactly opposite conclusion is just as firmly 
> supported by canon as yours.

Carol again:
I see that we've reached our usual standoff. I'm firmly convinced that
Voldemort, not Snape, is responsible for Harry's increased vulnerability. 

But what I don't see evidence for anywhere outside Harry's and Ron's
suppositions is Snape's *deliberate* desire to open Harry's mind to
Voldemort. And I ask anyone who still holds that view to please read
my post 121741 before responding.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/121741

Carol, who should start calling herself "Carol Carol" because she
keeps signing her posts twice