Legilimens and Occlumens and Snape's Reasons

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 86043

Zinaida asked:

Was Snape purposefully extracting a particular kind 
> of memories - acting as a dementor, of sorts - to humiltiate 
> Harry?                   
>

I think Snape was intentionally extracting painful memories from Harry
so that Harry could get some idea of how Voldemort could use
legilmency against him. (Also, of course, most of Harry's memories are
unhappy, as we know from the difficulty he had finding one that would
work for the Patronus charm.) Harry had to see the necessity for
learning occlumency. Unfortunately, he let his distrust of Snape (and
his desire to find out what was behind the door) interfere with the
effectiveness of the lessons. If he had applied himself, he would have
learned occlumency. But He didn't want to. And then he was drawn to
the Pensieve and saw at least one of the memories Snape least wanted
him to see--and the damage was done. Snape is proud and he detests
Harry, but he isn't a dementor or an agent of Voldemort. There is
always a reason for his actions--and his emotions.

Carol