Snape, Lupin, and teaching (WAS: First lesson WAS: Re: Marietta...)

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 185762

> SSSusan:
> I guess I think of someone like Lupin here.  I know, I know -- it's 
> been argued by some that Lupin's method of teaching the Patronus 
> Charm wasn't all that explicit either (comparing to Snape's teaching 
> about Occlumency/Legilimency), but does anyone doubt that Lupin would 
> have done *whatever it took* for Harry to learn?  

Zara:
*raises hand*
It seemed to me that Lupin did not want to teach Harry about Dementors 
at all. It was only at Harry's insistence that he did so. 

> PoA:
> "You made that dementor on the train back off," said Harry suddenly.
>
>"There are -- certain defenses one can use," said Lupin. "But there 
was only one dementor on the train. The more there are, the more 
difficult it becomes to resist."

>"What defenses?" said Harry at once. "Can you teach me?"

>"I don't pretend to be an expert at fighting dementors, Harry, quite 
the contrary..."

>"But if the dementors come to another Quidditch match, I need to be 
able to fight them --"

>Lupin looked into Harry's determined face, hesitated, then 
said, "Well... all right. I'll try and help. But it'll have to wait 
until next term, I'm afraid. I have a lot to do before the holidays. I 
chose a very inconvenient time to fall ill."

Zara:
And once the lessons start, Lupin suggests that they need not continue.

> PoA:
> Lupin looked paler than usual. ,

>"Harry, if you don't want to continue, I will more than understand --"

>"I do!" said Harry fiercely, stuffing the rest of the Chocolate Frog 
into his mouth. "I've got to! What if the dementors turn up at our 
match against Ravenclaw? I can't afford to fall off again. If we lose 
this game we've lost the Quidditch Cup!"

Zara:
To be clear, I am not criticizing Lupin for this. I find his position 
reasonable. Harry wants to learn a difficult and advanced spell that is 
at the least NEWT standard, and the method of learning it is unpleasant 
and makes Harry relive the moments before the death of his mother. 
Harry's reasons are not of any earth shaking importance - they are 
about winning at Quidditch. I can see having doubts about whether 
Quidditch is worth it. But it was quite clear to me that the lessons 
were something Harry wanted very much for his own private reasons, and 
he talked Lupin into giving them against's Lupin's own better judgment. 
Lupin then proceeded to teach Harry, who made excellent effort and 
persisted despite emotional discomfort caused by the Boggart/Dementor.

Snape, on the other hand, had in Harry a student of Occlumency who was 
completely unwilling to learn, and put no effort into the classes. And 
while some part of that could be laid at Snape's door based on their 
past history together, I think it unfair to blame Snape entirely. Harry 
had reasons unrelated to Snape for not wanting to block out Voldemort. 
He did, as Snape accused, *want* to have the dreams, and acted 
accordingly. Snape persisted for a couple of months in the face of this 
opposition, presumably because he did recognize the importance of Harry 
learning this, even while Harry ignored not only Snape's (extensive) 
explanation of this, but also the urgings of Lupin, Sirius, Albus, and 
Hermione, all of whom Harry liked and respected.