Skip to main content

Why did Voldemort stop employing Occlumency against Harry in Deathly Hallows?


During Order of the Phoenix Harry gets regular insights into Voldemort's thoughts and feelings. He gets snapshots of where Voldemort is and what he's doing. These visions stopped during Half-Blood Prince because Voldemort was practising Occlumency.




"So tell me, Harry," said Dumbledore. "Your scar...has it been hurting at all?"
Harry raised a hand unconsciously to his forehead and rubbed the lightning-shaped mark.
"No," he said, "and I've been wondering about that. I thought it would be burning all the time now Voldemort's getting so powerful again."
He glanced up at Dumbledore and saw that he was wearing a satisfied expression.
"I, on the other hand, thought otherwise," said Dumbledore. "Lord Voldemort has finally realised the dangerous access to his thoughts and feelings you have been enjoying. It appears he is now employing Occlumency against you."
(Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 4, Horace Slughorn).



It seems that at this point Voldemort realises that giving his archenemy intimate access into his mind and his plans isn't such a good idea. Which makes it all the stranger when those visions start up again in Deathly Hallows. Why would he make himself vulnerable in this way?


In Order of the Phoenix, he uses his connection with Harry as a weapon, to trick Harry into going to the Department of Mysteries to retrieve the prophecy. Even though he also gives Harry unintended insights into his plans as well (such as when he interviews Rookwood) he is basically a step ahead of Harry. The connection serves a purpose.


In Deathly Hallows it surely serves no such purpose. It only makes Voldemort vulnerable. Because of the connection Harry is able to keep track of Voldemort's movements and plans, which hindered Voldemort on several occasions. Through the connection Harry was forewarned that Voldemort was on his way to Godric's Hollow and to Malfoy Manor. Through the connection Harry realised that Voldemort was obsessed with the Elder Wand, meaning that Harry could potentially have worked out its location and taken it before Voldemort got there. Through the connection Voldemort showed Harry that he was worried about his Horcruxes being discovered, and in the process revealed to Harry that the last Horcrux was hidden in Hogwarts. And through the connection Harry knew Voldemort was in the Shrieking Shack during the Battle of Hogwarts, allowing Harry to get Snape's last memory. Time after time, Voldemort exposed himself in a way he didn't during the previous book.



Was stopping Occlumency a conscious decision on Voldemort's part? What purpose did it serve?



Answer




J.K. Rowling is asked this exact question in an interview. She states he’s losing control and can’t always stop Harry seeing into his mind. He isn’t choosing in any way to let Harry have this access.



Maura: How come voldemort was no longer employing occlumency against harry, as he was in the 6th book


J.K. Rowling: He is losing control, and unable to prevent Harry seeing into his mind. The connection between them is never fully understood by Voldemort, who does not know that Harry is a Horcrux.
- Bloomsbury Live Chat (July 30, 2007)



From evidence in the books, we see that when Harry sees into his mind, it’s when he’s feeling a strong emotion - his mental state affects the connection. He also didn’t know a bit of his soul was in Harry, so he didn’t realize that was the reason behind their mental link.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the etymology of Doctor Who?

I recently decided to watch Doctor Who, and started viewing the 2005 version. I have the first two episodes from the first season, and I can't help but wonder what is the etymology of the name "Doctor Who"? And why does the protagonist call himself "the Doctor" (or is it "the doctor")? Answer In the very first episode of Doctor Who (way back in 1963), the Doctor has a granddaughter going by the name "Susan Foreman", and the junkyard where the TARDIS is has the sign "I.M. Foreman". Barbara, who becomes one of the Doctor's companions, calls him "Doctor Foreman" (probably assuming that is his name given his relationship to Susan), and Ian (another early companion) does the same in the second episode, to which the Doctor says: Eh? Doctor who? What's he talking about? "Foreman" is most likely selected as a convenient surname for Susan to use because it happened to be on display near where the TARDIS landed....
Post a Comment
Read more

story identification - Animation: floating island, flying pests

At least 20 years ago I watched a short animated film which stuck in my mind. The whole thing was wordless, possibly European, and I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it... It featured a flying island which was inhabited by some creatures who (in my memory) reminded me of the Moomins. The island was frequently bothered by large winged animals who swooped around, although I don't think they did any actual damage. At the end one of the moomin creatures suddenly gets a weird feeling, feels forced to climb to the top of the island and then plunges down a shaft right through the centre - only to emerge at the bottom as one of the flyers. Answer Skywhales from 1983. The story begins with a man warning the tribe of approaching skywhales. The drummers then warn everybody of the hunt as everyone get prepared to set "sail". Except one man is found in his home sleeping as the noise wake him up. He then gets ready and is about to take his weapon as he hesitates then decides ...
Post a Comment
Read more