The Isolated Headmaster: Implications for Snape and Harry

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 163609

Lupinlore:
> And here we have what I think is an interesting example of the 
weakness of DD's approach -- one of his mistakes, if you will. By 
holding back important information from both Snape and Harry, he was 
in effect constantly stoking their hatred of one another.

Ceridwen:
I've snipped the rest, since this sums it up.

Dumbledore did say it was an old man's mistake to forget what it was 
like to be young, and another time he admitted that he didn't realize 
the hurt ran so deep.  As Headmaster of a school where this problem 
is growing, he needed to be on it and nip it in the bud.

As head of the Order of the Phoenix, it made perfect sense to 
withhold information.  Neither Snape nor Harry needs this information 
about each other, so there is no need to risk too many people 
knowing, or to risk breach of privacy.  And during OotP, there is the 
added problem of the Harry/Voldemort connection, so having Harry know 
something he might like or respect about Snape could be dangerous for 
the Order's mission.  And, as head of the Order, it is in 
Dumbledore's best interest to protect each of his agents, or he will 
lose the trust of all his agents.

As things turn out, of course, things might have been very different 
by the beginning of HBP if Dumbledore had trusted Harry and Snape 
with information about each other.  Harry at school and Harry as the 
Chosen One are the same person, so what affects Harry the Student 
also affects Harry the Hero Destined to Vanquish the Dark Lord.  And 
despite Snape's ability with Occlumency, which seems to be in some 
way connected with the ability to compartmentalize his feelings, he 
still has those feelings, and they do bleed over occasionally.  It is 
not a good situation.

Could Dumbledore's secrecy, in the interest of the war effort and the 
ultimate safety of the Wizarding World, have actually placed it in 
more danger?

Ceridwen.