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loserthree comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 11 - Less Wrong Discussion

6 Post author: Oscar_Cunningham 17 March 2012 09:41AM

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Comment author: loserthree 21 March 2012 12:43:49AM *  6 points [-]

I'm unsure that is an accurate description of the text.

You are more or less right about chapter 18. First, Harry makes his demand regarding Snape:

"Ah... he's also to stop reading students' minds."

Then there is this corresponding line within the compromise Dumbledore offers:

He will promise to only read minds when the safety of a student requires it.

We don't observe this promise actually being made. And we aren't even assured of when it would be made. A pointlessly legalistic take on the terms could be that Snape will make that promise at some point in his life.

But I think it's safe to say that the promise was made shortly thereafter.

I also think it is plausible that it has been followed. The closing of chapter 28 may be addressed by another quote from chapter 18:

"Common sense is often mistaken for Legilimency," said Dumbledore.

Hormone-addled children are ill-equipped for subtly. I think the more telling thing from the scene in chapter 28 is that Snape directly rejected her instead of leaving her pining, as he had been left pining. Previously he regarded the pain of rejection as the worst possible thing. But after his conversation with HJPEV, and I guess some introspection or whatever, he understands his acceptance of that rejection was better than eternal uncertainty.

(emphasis added as edit)