Imperius Resistance and Occlumency was Harry's anger (was Re: Draco's anger.)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 122746


>>Eggplant:
>I have never even hinted that Voldemort is not an enemy...

Betsy:
Sorry, but you *have* hinted that Voldemort is not *Harry's* enemy.  
When you say that Harry was perfectly correct to sabotage his 
Occlumency lessons in order to put one over on his teacher, you are 
saying that Voldemort is not an actual threat.  In other words, not 
an enemy.  Sneaking into Snape's private memories in no way helped 
prepare Harry for taking on Voldemort.  Yet you cheer Harry's actions 
like he just pulled one over on his ultimate enemy instead of 
alienating the only person currently at Hogwarts who can teach him a 
necessary skill.

>>Eggplant:
>... as for Snape, he should certainly be treated as an enemy for the 
purposes of the Occlumency lessons and I think even Snape and 
Dumbledore  would agree with that.<

Betsy:
Snape *definitely* agrees with that.  He specifically tells Harry to 
defend himself using any means Harry can think of.  The thing is, 
Snape is not teaching Harry how to be a spy, he's trying to teach him 
Occlumency.  What Harry did would be the equivalent of a boxing 
student hiding behind a door and knocking his coach out with a shovel 
when the coach came back in the room.  Sure, the student got the best 
of the coach, but he learned nothing about boxing and lost his coach 
to boot.  Not a good way to train for the ring.

>>Eggplant:
>But is Snape really an enemy of Harry? Only JKR knows for certain 
but I think it's a real possibility and I'll bet Harry feels the same 
way.<

Betsy:
I do not think Snape is the enemy (obviously <g>), but I agree with 
you that Harry does see Snape as an enemy.  And he does treat Snape 
accordingly, and the end result is the death of Sirius.  That's one 
of the big reasons that I really hope that Snape and Harry come to 
some sort of understanding.  They're both wasting time and energy on 
each other that would be better used facing down Voldemort.

>>Betsy: 
>You're offered lessons that could help you regain control of your 
own head, and the most powerful light wizard tells you that it is 
*imperative* you learn this skill.< 
 
>>Eggplant:
>This "most powerful light wizard" has proven to be dead wrong over 
after over again...

Betsy:
Has Dumbledore been wrong time and again?  He *was* fooled by Crouch!
Moody, and the big reveal in OotP is that puppetmaster!Dumbledore is 
a myth (thank God!) but Harry is still alive, still learning, and 
Voldemort has paid dearly for every step forward he's made, because 
of Dumbledore's actions.

>>Eggplant:
>...and at the time it would be entirely reasonable to assume he was 
wrong this time too because as Harry said, if he knew Occlumency 
earlier Mr. Weasley would be dead.<

Betsy:
This is the crux of the matter.  Harry has never fully trusted 
*anyone* and understandably so.  I am of the opinion that Harry's 
lack of trust is a strength in many ways.  He thinks things through 
for himself.  The problem here, the reason Dumbldore *did* screw up, 
is that Harry is deliberatly kept in the dark on too many things.  
>From Harry's perspective his link with Voldemort *is* a good thing.  
And while Dumbledore's word was good enough for him before, Harry is 
too aware of too many secrets being hidden from him to take anyone's 
word at this time.

I understand why Dumbledore made the decision he made; Harry is still 
a boy, and he'd prefer to keep him off the battle field.  But I 
understand too, why Harry cannot accept being kept safely on a shelf, 
unquestionably obeying orders he doesn't see the point of.  His whole 
life has been fighting against being put safely away.  So, I guess 
this is a long way of saying that I concede the point here.  Though I 
recognize that Harry's decision to not practice Occlumency was 
unwise, I don't know if Harry could have made any other decision.

>>Eggplant: 
>As for these wonderful lessons everybody is talking about, the ones 
that let a teacher get deep inside your head, are being taught by 
somebody you do not trust! Oh and one more little thing, the lessons 
make you feel terrible and DO NOT WORK; it's worse, the lessons are 
counterproductive, they actually make you weaker. You complain about 
this again and again up to the very end of your adventure but receive 
no satisfactory explanation for this, or an explanation of any sort 
for that matter. You are just ignored.< 

Betsy:
Did Harry tell folks again and again that the lessons are making him 
weak?  I flipped through OotP, and Harry thought about it and brought 
it up once with Hermione and Ron.  He did say something to Dumbledore 
after the fact, but that was all I could find.  Also, Dumbledore 
doesn't ignore Harry when he accuses Snape of opening his (Harry's) 
mind to Voldemort.  He answers simply, "I trust Severus Snape." (OotP 
p. 833 Scholastic)

I also take issue with the lessons not working.  In the very first 
lesson, Harry pushes Snape out of his mind.  In fact, the first 
Occlumency lesson has a lot of similarity to the Imperio lesson with 
Crouch!Moody.  There's a small voice that refuses to allow another to 
take control and Harry ends up on the floor with a hurt knee.  Folks 
have argued that Snape never actually shows Harry how to do 
Occlumency, but Crouch!Moody never actually shows Harry how to block 
the Imperio curse.   And Snape *does* give Harry more instruction 
when he asks, (the whole, clear your mind thing) which is more than 
we see Crouch!Moody doing.  And Snape gives Harry homework.  Harry 
himself admits that he didn't do the work. "I didn't practice, I 
didn't bother, I could've stopped myself having those dreams..." 
(ibid p. 829)

No, the lessons would have worked.  But Harry didn't want to learn.  
It's the old leading a horse to water he doesn't want to drink 
problem.  Snape gave Harry the tools, Harry chose not to use them.

Would having a teacher Harry trusted made a difference?  I don't 
think it would have in that I think Harry would still have wanted to 
know what was going on and would still have let in the dream.

But, on a totally different note, going with the idea that McGonagall 
or Flitwick or even Lupin as the teacher would have changed nothing 
plot-wise, I *love* that JKR chose to have Snape be the teacher.  We, 
the readers, learned more about Snape's past, Harry learned more 
about his father, and the relationship between Snape and Harry has 
been set up for a big change.  I can't wait for HBP!

Betsy