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

[bookraptor11]

No: HPFGUIDX 65799

> I wrote:
> 
> > 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.
And rowena_grunnionffitch replied:
>    While Snape often expresses dislike and contempt he only seems 
to 
> lose control of himself three times - twice in PoA and once in 
OotP, 
> when Harry pries into his pensieve. Even when he goads Sirius 
Snape, 
> unlike Black, is in control of himself not just flying on unfocused 
> rage.
> 
>    Emotional control doesn't necessarily involve Spock-like 
stoicism, 
> it could also also include deliberately venting emotional pressure 
> through needling selected targets, (Harry, Sirius, Neville, etc.) 

Me again:

I agree with you about the venting while at Hogwarts, which is 
heavily warded. Though Voldemort's emotions come through to Harry, 
that's because of their special connection. I don't think V can 
perform Legilimency on anyone within the school's boundaries.

Still, I find it hard to accept that Snape can turn his emotions off 
and on like a light switch. It used to be fashionable in psychiatry 
to vent your anger in a controlled situation (wasn't it called primal 
scream therapy?), because repression was thought to be bad and lead 
to depression and physical illness.  Years later I remember reading 
that some came to disagree with this; they said venting anger only 
made a person even angrier and led to worse controll problems than he 
started with. 

However, I was thinking on your response at work and I thought of a 
reason Snape, as an Occlumencer, would want to build up a stock of 
unhappy and angry memories. In OOP it's never stated that Snape has 
rejoined the DEs though he is getting info on Voldemort's moves.  

If he's any way close to V, he can't use his Occlumency to totally 
block V from reading his emotions. He wouldn't want V to know he can 
do this.  Snape would want to block any memories of his work for the 
Order, and at the same time feed V memories of his (Snape's) hatred 
for Harry, Dumbledore, mudbloods and blood traitors, that he 
(supposedly ) can't quite supress, even though Snape is undercover at 
Hogwarts. He's trying to show Voldemort that he's having trouble 
looking like a reformed DE.

This might explain why Snape applies for DADA every year and is 
turned down by Dumbledore. Voldemort can pull out genuine negative 
emotions Snape is feeling toward D, and so fool V easier than if 
Snape had to manufacture anger when he didn't really feel angry.

Even people on the list who like Snape (and I am one), have had 
trouble with his "I see no difference" comment to Hermione.  It may 
be that it was said not only because Slytherins were around, but that 
someday he would have to prove his loyalty again to V, and the 
comment is vicious enough to not only convince V, but could be used 
when Snape wanted to give V a laugh.

If you believe this theory then Snape is almost never truly out of 
control.

Donna