[HPforGrownups] Occlumency & Imperio/Snape Survey

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 149249

richter_kuymal
I think a comparison of the two passages indicates that actually Harry is 
innately GOOD at keeping unwanted intrusions out of his mind.  He has the 
same initial problem with Imperio, then throws it off as he
does with Legilimens.  The difference is that whereas fake!Moody actually 
lets him succeed, Snape disparages Harry's response even although it works 
well enough to force Snape OUT of Harry's head and add a stinging hex to 
boot.  Thereafter, Snape uses Harry's emotions to unsettle him and insists 
that Harry "rid your mind of all emotion..."(page 538 OOP).  Moody doesn't 
insist that Harry fight off the Imperius in a particular fashion -- he 
merely encourages
Harry in doing it.I find the comparison interesting.

Magpie:
I wrote a longer thing on this once, but I think the two are fundamentally 
different in an important way in JKR's mind.  We see Harry being innately 
good at throwing off Imperius, but we know via the author that he's 
inherently bad at Occlumency.  It's not just the teacher, this seems to say 
something important about Harry's natural talent.

I think the difference is that Imperius centers around Harry's Will, which 
is his strength and connected to the strength of Gryffindor as well.  When 
Harry feels someone imposing their will on him he fights back.

Occlumency requires the compartmentalizing of emotions, which Harry can not 
do.  He is always one, of a piece, with his emotions--I suspect this may be 
partly why his will is so strong.  When Voldemort gets to him in OotP, he 
doesn't Imperio him or impose his will on Harry, he manipulates his 
emotions, often mixing them with his own or putting emotional ideas into his 
head.  Harry can tell the difference between his will and another's, but 
when he feels an emotion he can't shut it off.  Instead he allows it to 
direct his own will, lets it "become" him.

I can't help but find it interesting that the Slytherin pov seems to be the 
opposite.  Draco is apparently a natural Occlumens.  His emotions 
(Slytherin's area) are his strength, but he can replace his own will with 
someone else's (which you have to do to be a DE).  In order to submit to 
another's will or an idea, he can shut off any emotions that go against 
that.  But actually he'd probably be a stronger person if he stopped 
repressing the emotions he does.  He's a little too good at that Occlumency 
thing.  Harry's sometimes too good at Imperio.  In HBP he has to learn to 
sometimes take an order.

That's possibly also why Snape's hopeless at teaching him.  What Harry does 
to push Snape out of his mind is good, but is not Occlumency.  Unfortunately 
Snape doesn't seem to do much else but tell Harry to block off his 
emotions--easy if you're naturally a compartmentalizer, harder if you're 
Harry.

-m