Harry's inability to perform occlumency

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 160591

---  "Davida Lynne Piper" <davidapiper at ...> wrote:
>
> > Nicole:
> > One huge one you didn't mention, was that Bellatrix 
> > taught him something Harry failed to learn.  Draco
> > learned Occlumency so well, that even Snape couldn't
> > read his mind.  A big difference between them was that
> > Draco had a caring teacher and he didn't have dreams 
> > he wanted to see. <snip>
> 
> 
> Davida wrote:
> I believe it was who was teaching Harry that he couldn't
> learn Occlumency. If he had another teacher that was 
> patient with Harry, he would have learned it.
> 
> Davida
>

bboyminn:

I don't think the key point is so much that Harry couldn't
learn Occlumency, but more that he didn't. Though the 
degree to which he truly didn't remains to be seen in the
final book. Several times in the Occlumency classes Harry
did very effectively block Snape's access to his thoughts.
So, we know it is possible for him to do it if he is 
sufficiently motivated.

I believe JKR said something like- Harry would never be
good at Occlumency because his emotions are so close to
the surface, in a sense, he feels to deeply. Where as 
Draco, as clear from his bullying, can easily separate 
himself from his own emotions and the emotions of others.
I believe she said Draco can 'compartmentalize' his 
feelings.

Now the fact that Harry is never going to be really good
at it doesn't mean he is totally incabable of it. I 
suspect that when the crucial moment comes, Harry will
be able to summon the force of will necessary to block
his mind. But his inability to divorce himself from his
feeling and his empathy for others will prevent him from
doing it on a routine basis.

Also, I have always said that part of the next book will
be Harry working hard to learn the things that he 
reasonably feels he will need to know to defeat Voldemort.
Amoung those things will certainly be more Occlumency 
practice, though this time taught to him by someone who
may not be as good as Snape, but who is a more caring and
systematic 'walk-before-you-run' teacher.

His likely teachers are -

Lupin and Moody - Occlumency, defensive & offensive spells,
combat dueling, unspoken spells.

Bill Weasley - detecting magical residue, curse breaking, 
safely destroying Horcruxes.

I think these three will be his key teachers and will be
the first people brought into his inner circle of trust
in the next book. Though, I think Lupin will be the first
brought into a limited degreee of knowledge of Harry's
task.

For what it's worth.

Steve