*Continuing in his story of "My Brilliant Plan and How Everybody Else Fucked It Up In Ways I, Dumbledore, Could Never Have Foreseen," Dumbledore reveals he realized he was, of course, completely correct in thinking Voldemort would try to use Harry, so he brilliantly arranged for some half-arsed Occlumency lessons. These lessons were really important, though not so important that Dumbledore would actually keep an eye on them, or get Harry a teacher who would help him.
Scene: Dumbledore's office. Snape is sitting before the Headmaster's desk, a puzzled look on his face. Dumbledore leans back, sucking on a lemon drop.
Dumbledore: So, you see it's vitally important that Harry learn Occlumency. Although, not so important that I'm going to teach him myself. But vitally important.
Snape: Let me make sure I understand what you're asking. You say that Voldemort and Harry can share thoughts and feelings? That, even though Voldemort is hundreds of miles away, he can know what Harry is feeling--can literally see through his eyes and hear through his ears? That's what you're saying?
Dumbledore: Yes, and probably possess him, too, if he likes.
Snape: So, you want me, a double agent whose life depends on Voldemort not suspecting that I really work for you, to teach Harry Potter something Voldemort doesn't want him to learn?
Dumbledore: Exactly.
Snape: Even though Voldemort will be able to watch me doing that--at the moment I'm doing it.
Dumbledore: Yep.
Snape: And with the great probability that he'll be able to read my mind during the lessons?
Dumbledore: You can borrow my pensieve and remove any inconvenient memories.
Snape: Well, that makes it all better, then. I don't suppose I have any choice about this?
Dumbledore: No. (He pops another lemon drop in his mouth.) By the way, you still suck.
*Apparently the Order have more reliable ways of communicating than Harry does, so Snape could easily contact Sirius. Is there some reason these "reliable means of communication" could not have been given to Harry? Because I feel like Dumbledore just said, "Oh, well, we’ve all got cell phones so Snape just called him." ETA: Which is pretty much what he said. And no, nobody will ever teach the kids to use their Patronuses that way even though they presumably would.
Especially when Harry's Patronus is so striking and powerful.
*All agreed to go to Harry’s aid at once. It just maybe didn’t seem that way cause it took so long.
Fernwithy had a very nice solution to this plot hole. She had the Death Eaters set up all these traps after the kids get in, to prevent anyone else rescuing them. It's sort of like the obstacle course in PS/SS. It's one of those times when JKR's difficulty with logic helps spur the creativity of fanficcers.
*And Snape told Sirius to stay behind. If anyone is keeping score, yes, Snape is the one person who thought rationally and effectively throughout this ordeal. No wonder it’s all his fault! Thinking rationally effectively is just another sign he does not love Harry and so is evil!
I can't help thinking that Dumbledore was amazed to find someone like Snape, who does think rationally most of the time (even in the midst of a huge temper tantrum). Snape was probably the first person since Grindelwald who could hope to match Dumbledore in deductive ability. Even if Tom was a powerful wizard, he was still a dope.
*Now I have visions of drunken!Sirius telling Kreacher about how Harry means most to him in the world. I still wonder how Kreacher knew that Harry was coming to regard Sirius as a father and a brother. Maybe they just reminded him of the Blacks: Mr. Black also drank alone and Sirius and Regulus were forever shutting themselves in their rooms and sulking.
Post-DH, we now know that this was true of Sirius. Regulus probably wasn't sulking, but writing "Mrs. Regulus Voldemort" over and over again.
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timeasmymeasure
The Lame Prophecy (Part Two)
Date: 2008-07-04 07:22 pm (UTC)Scene: Dumbledore's office. Snape is sitting before the Headmaster's desk, a puzzled look on his face. Dumbledore leans back, sucking on a lemon drop.
Dumbledore: So, you see it's vitally important that Harry learn Occlumency. Although, not so important that I'm going to teach him myself. But vitally important.
Snape: Let me make sure I understand what you're asking. You say that Voldemort and Harry can share thoughts and feelings? That, even though Voldemort is hundreds of miles away, he can know what Harry is feeling--can literally see through his eyes and hear through his ears? That's what you're saying?
Dumbledore: Yes, and probably possess him, too, if he likes.
Snape: So, you want me, a double agent whose life depends on Voldemort not suspecting that I really work for you, to teach Harry Potter something Voldemort doesn't want him to learn?
Dumbledore: Exactly.
Snape: Even though Voldemort will be able to watch me doing that--at the moment I'm doing it.
Dumbledore: Yep.
Snape: And with the great probability that he'll be able to read my mind during the lessons?
Dumbledore: You can borrow my pensieve and remove any inconvenient memories.
Snape: Well, that makes it all better, then. I don't suppose I have any choice about this?
Dumbledore: No. (He pops another lemon drop in his mouth.) By the way, you still suck.
*Apparently the Order have more reliable ways of communicating than Harry does, so Snape could easily contact Sirius. Is there some reason these "reliable means of communication" could not have been given to Harry? Because I feel like Dumbledore just said, "Oh, well, we’ve all got cell phones so Snape just called him." ETA: Which is pretty much what he said. And no, nobody will ever teach the kids to use their Patronuses that way even though they presumably would.
Especially when Harry's Patronus is so striking and powerful.
*All agreed to go to Harry’s aid at once. It just maybe didn’t seem that way cause it took so long.
Fernwithy had a very nice solution to this plot hole. She had the Death Eaters set up all these traps after the kids get in, to prevent anyone else rescuing them. It's sort of like the obstacle course in PS/SS. It's one of those times when JKR's difficulty with logic helps spur the creativity of fanficcers.
*And Snape told Sirius to stay behind. If anyone is keeping score, yes, Snape is the one person who thought rationally and effectively throughout this ordeal. No wonder it’s all his fault! Thinking rationally effectively is just another sign he does not love Harry and so is evil!
I can't help thinking that Dumbledore was amazed to find someone like Snape, who does think rationally most of the time (even in the midst of a huge temper tantrum). Snape was probably the first person since Grindelwald who could hope to match Dumbledore in deductive ability. Even if Tom was a powerful wizard, he was still a dope.
*Now I have visions of drunken!Sirius telling Kreacher about how Harry means most to him in the world. I still wonder how Kreacher knew that Harry was coming to regard Sirius as a father and a brother. Maybe they just reminded him of the Blacks: Mr. Black also drank alone and Sirius and Regulus were forever shutting themselves in their rooms and sulking.
Post-DH, we now know that this was true of Sirius. Regulus probably wasn't sulking, but writing "Mrs. Regulus Voldemort" over and over again.