OoP clues?

[Clifford Vander Yacht]

No: HPFGUIDX 158089

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Brett" <o_secca at ...> wrote:
Brett wrote:
> An unresolved plot point for me from OotP, perhaps a clue(?), has to
> do with Snape and the Occlumency lessons. IF Snape is Good, and
> Dumbledore has sacrificed all to be able to place him in a position
> to help Harry, then why wouldn't Snape try harder to help Harry
> learn this skill? In the book, as it occured, it made sense, but
> when one looks back on it, in particular remembering Snapes cries
> of "Blocked, again & Again, etc." from HBP; I've never understood
> why Snape didn't make it a top priority to force Harry to learn this
> skill that he seems to need so desperately. Why would Snape, who is
> perhaps committed to helping Harry at a Life or Death level; not
> find a way to break through the BS and get Harry to sit down shut
> up, and learn.
>
> Since I am of the "Snape is good, and going to be rather important
> to the plot of the book-that-is-yet-to-be-named" camp; this failure
> to help Harry with this has always bothered me. My thoughts have
> always been - it happened because Mrs. Rowling was focused on the
> short term goals of the current book at that point, at the expense
> of logical consistency in the overall plot (an understandable and
> forgiveable offense, in my opinion.
>
> But, does anyone else have any better thoughts or actual theories on
> this? [or is there an old thread to point me too? =)]


Cliff here:
As I have personal experience in Muggle telepathy, I can say that
making your mind blank is NOT the way to block intrusion. In fact, to
get telepathic messages, feelings and images, your mind (and in case
of images also your vision) must be free of interference. Thus Snape
told HP exactly the wrong thing as Snape wanted LV to be able to
access Harry's mind. Snape said the DD wanted him to teach HP; DD
would assume Snape would teach correctly.

In Muggle terms, we talk of a closed mind, one that refuses the facts
as his/her mind is already made up. Such a person cannot receive
telepathic messages. It requires an open mind, not only for the very
weak signal, but also the acceptance. The signal, however, has a
tremendous range, 1100 miles is easy. It doesn't require close
proximity and/or view of the eyes as that is the Muggle form of lie
detection. Like a polygraph, it only detects the degree that the
person is upset over telling a lie.

Now, JKR may have not known what I know, so she couldn't write it. Or,
of course, she was making an obvious clue to those of us who do know
that Snape is a bad egg. I caught the situation on my first reading of
the book.

Cliff, who hopes he's not alone in using telepathy.