Occlumency & Imperio

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 149277

> Flop:
> I noticed that too. In fact, didn't Snape specifically
> TELL Harry to do ANYTHING he could to keep Snape out
> of his mind in that first lesson? Yes, here it is
> "'You may use your wand to attempt to disarm me, or
> defend yourself in any other way you can think of,'
> said Snape" (OotP 471) and yet when Harry does exactly
> that, he is chided for the spell he used.... Interesting.

zgirnius:
"Did you mean to produce a Stinging Hex?" is not a criticism, it is a 
question. It is asked 'coolly', and there are none of the 
accompanying 'nasty Snape' expressions we sometimes see, like the 
sneer, the curled lip, etc. 

He goes on to say that for a first attempt, Harry's was 'not as poor 
as it might have been'. This, too, is not a criticism, (though I 
agree it is in absolute terms a very backhanded compliment...but then 
this is Snape we are talking about. Any compliment at all is a 
surprise...) And he suggests if Harry used his mind to repel the 
attack, he would not need to use a hex. Which is not contradicting 
his previous instruction, but clarifying what he believes to be the 
BEST approach.