Occlumency and Legilimency (WAS Re: Snape the Occlumens)

[Naama]

No: HPFGUIDX 79539

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Wanda Sherratt" 
<<snip snip>>

> Perhaps Snape is so skilled, he can hide his thoughts seamlessly, 
> so Voldemort thinks he is seeing everything there is to see, 
> instead of encountering obstructions or blanks.
> 
> Wanda


I think you've got it there. Like Snape said, Occlumency is NOT mind-
reading. It seems to be more about self control to me. Notice how 
most of the time, Snape is very calm and self-controled. He is also 
a very good actor (IMO anyway). He controles his emotions (most of 
the time) and so makes a good Occlumens. For Snape, it wouldn't be 
hiding his thoughts, but rather blocking them from his mind, 
convincing himself, while LV is around, that his treachery had never 
occured and that he serves Lv alone and truly. 

I think we had an example of Voldemort's Legilimency when he came to 
the MoM. Harry taunted Bellatrix Lestrange about smashing the 
prophecy. Come LV. He looked at Harry's eyes, and confirmed his 
story: "No Bella, he's not lying. I see the truth staring back at me 
from his worthless mind" (not an exact quote, I'm afraid, but I'm 
sure it was there). I'm guessing what LV did was to recall the 
memory of it being smashed from Harry's mind. When Snape was 
teaching Harry, Harry got to see it at work, to actually *see* the 
memories, so as to know his mind was penetrated, and so form a 
defense. However, LV has no interest whatsoever in making his 
victims aware of his Legilimency and what he was extracting from 
their minds. Therefore, Harry did not see the memory of the smashing 
of the prophecy or had any inclination Voldemort had just penetrated 
his thoughts.

I'm guessing a test of loyalty from Voldemort would be either a 
direct question: "Are you loyal to me?" (We know he can tell truth 
from lies). Or, he might try and rouse the image of himself in his 
DEs, and see what emotions arise. The "right answer" would be 
loyalty, fear, awe, love... Hatred and defiance would quite surely 
make Voldemort raise his wand...

Tell me what you think,

-- Naama, a huge Snape fan.


P.S.
Sorry if this has been discussed before... couldn't resist ;-)