First lesson WAS: Re: Marietta, was Slytherin's Reputation

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 185783

> > montavilla47:
> > So, while no one ever came out and said that Voldemort
> > would be able to reverse the Legilimency connection between
> > himself and Harry, one would need to consider that as a 
> > strong possibility--considering that Voldemort was  such 
> > a great Legilimens.  
> 
> Zara:
> Albus did come out and say it. He tells Harry he did not teach himn 
> Occlumency himself, in order not to tempt Voldemort. Albus feared 
> Voldemort would use Harry to spy on him.

Montavilla47:
Thanks, Zara!  I was writing my post when you posted that conversation
and relying on memory.  I remembered Dumbledore being vague about
the situation.  I had no idea he actually came out and said it.  


> > Montavilla47:
> > Now, maybe Snape should have tried using Lupin's trick.  Instead
> > of continuing to tutor the unwilling Harry, he should have suggested
> > that it was too difficult, given Harry some chocolate, and told him
> > to give it up.
> 
> Zara:
> I think Lupin's "trick" only worked because Harry wanted to learn the 
> specific skill he wheedled Lupin into teaching him. This was clearly 
> not the case with Occlumency.

Montavilla47:
I agree.  I was being sarcastic.

>Alla:
>Could you please clarify? Are you suggesting that no teacher was able
>to teach Harry something that Harry was not willing to learn? That no
>teacher was able to overcome Harry's unwillingness to learn?

>I mean, Harry did not want to learn Occlumency much. What I am saying
>is that Snape contributed enormously to that unwillingness and somebody
>more capable and more able to adjust to Harry's learning style would be
>able to overcome that.

Montavilla47:

I'm trying to think about another subject that Harry was unwilling to
learn, but I can't think of one.  The closest I can come to one is when
Dumbledore assigns Harry the "homework" of getting Slughorn's 
memory.  And it's not that Harry is unwilling, it's that it's more 
difficult than Harry anticipated.  

Otherwise, Harry's ability to learn a subject seems dependent on the
teacher.  He excels at classes where he likes the teacher (Tranfiguration,
Charms, COMC, and Herbology), does an average job in the subject
where the teacher is so unremarkable that he never talks about him/her
(Astrology), and does poorly in subjects there the teachers are boring
or generally annoying (History and Divination, although of course his
grade is worsened in History when he has to leave early).

But he does as well in potions as he does with the classes where
he actually likes the teachers--with no indication that Harry enjoys
the subject for its own sake, or sees any purpose in it beyond
passing one of his classes.  Harry also notes that Snape is effective
in getting the class to concentrate--while in other classes, he
is often chatting with Ron and Hermione about other subjects
(they do this in Charms and Herbology) or even playing around (he 
and Ron pretend to duel with the chicken wands in Transfiguration).

And when Harry does get a nice teacher in potions, he promptly
stops learning the subject, content to rely on someone else's 
work--as long as he gets praise and treats.