OoP: What Snape is really doing out there...

[bookraptor11]

No: HPFGUIDX 65271

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Sara_ELL" <sara1412au at y...> 
writes: 
 <We are not told how many people are able to perform 
> Occlumency but the impression I get is that there are only two 
> master Occlumencers at Hogwarts - Snape (whose abilities are good 
> enough for him to receive unqualified support from none other than 
> Sirius, himself) and Dumbledore. 
> Sara 
> (sitting on a haystack with a glass of pumpkin-juice, on the the 
Spy!
> Snape bandwagon)

Hi Sara, 
I've been trying to catch up on 6 days of OOP posts (nearly 
impossible!), so my apologies if this has been raised before.  

How in the name of all that's holy did Snape manage to be a master at 
Occlumency?  I nearly dropped OOP when he told Harry he had to clear 
his mind of emotion, says that "people who wallow in emotion and 
allow themselves to be provoked so easily" can't resist Voldemort.  
And I know we're seeing things from Harry's perspective, but through 
all five books Snape has been almost continually angry.  Yes, I know, 
it's around Harry, we almost never see him when he doesn't think 
Harry is around.

So, is all that anger, maybe genuine when Snape was younger, become 
an act he puts on in front of Harry (Severus Snape, the world's 
greatest living actor)?  No, not likely.

Has he learned great personal self control during his DE days &enjoys 
an opportunity to "let down" when Harry is around (Harry, Snape's 
verbal punching bag)? Has he gone back to angry, easily provoked 
behavior because with Voldemort no longer around, at least in the 
earlier books, he figures it's safe and he prefers it?

I just find it hard to reconcile my image of emotional Snape that 
we've all come to know with controlled Snape who is a master 
Occlumencer.

Donna