Snape giving Occlumency lessons

[Kewpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 81056

Ellen wrote:
> I don't know if this issue has been discussed before or not, but I 
> not at all certain that Snape is spying on Voldemort.  
> In Book 1, Snape worked against Quirrell, and therefore against 
> Voldemort, who was riding around on the back of Quirrell's head.  
> Snape may be able to sheild his thoughts against Voldemort's 
> intrusion, but he can hardly sheild Voldemort's own memories.  At 
<snip>
>  If Snape is spying on Voldemort, he must be doing it 
> in some sort of disguise or from hiding.  Occlumency alone wouldn't 
> be enough.

Joan:
To assume that Snape must be going back to spy either on Voldemort or 
DE is really as straighforward and obvious guess as you can get, even 
Harry clearly stated this very same guess at the end of GoF...which 
means it should be unlikely. Maybe something along the line there but 
with a total unexpected twist that probably none of us would ever 
come close to (prior of OOP, who would have thought of Occlumency?). 
So yes I agree with Ellen there has to be something else. I don't 
know if anyone notice, but JKR seems to have "given" Snape new 
abilities or have him introducing some new skills that always turns 
out being pretty crucial/essential in the climax finale in almost 
every book (I mean, compare to other Order members or teachers. Snape 
introduced us Expelliarmus, Wolfsbane, Veriserum, Occlumency, 
etc....pretty much tells you Snape's character played a pretty major 
and significance role that made him stood out among most adult 
characters). Therefore I'm not surprised if Snape were to reveal some 
new skills/abilities in book 6 or 7 that explain what it is that he 
is "prepared to do" by Dumbledore that seems to have related in.

Ellen: 
> I think Snape was picked to teach Occlumency to Harry for three 
> reasons:
> 1) Dumbledore couldn't do it himself - Voldemort and the MoM were 
> both looking to exploit his connection with Harry.
> 2) It had to be someone at Hogwarts, with whom Harry could have 
> regular contact in an unremarkable way.
> 3) It also had to be a member of the Order.

May I add:
4) *It has to be Snape* because the whole "probing/exchanging 
emotions and memories" Occlumency thing is a very convenient and 
clever device to give us insights on Snape's past, which is something 
JKR felt is important to reveal to us, possible setup for future 
revelations.  

5) *It has to be Snape* because then we'd have the Penseive scenario 
happened, thus providing information on Harry/readers about MWPP and 
Lily's Hogwart days, and most importantly to shatter Harry's Saint 
James fantasy, which is of course, another important information 
needed to be reveal to readers. 
 
6) As some people here have speculated, this exchange of memories 
between Snape and Harry could be potential for a future possible 
understanding (hence comes tolerance) between the two characters. 

It is just SO easy for JKR to have just about anybody from the Order 
teaching Harry; she could have just assigned the Occlumency ability 
to whoever she likes (she always said Lupin is her ideal teacher; if 
her purpose is only to have "someone to teach Harry" she could have 
easily created Lupin the "superb Occlument" and have a Lupin & 
Harry's perfect training session. Everyone would be happy then and 
all well ends well). But what purpose would that served? What does it 
mean if McGonagall or Lupin were to teach Harry? What drama would 
that create? What tension would that provoke? What consequences would 
that lead to? The Occlumency lesson are not just about "oh! time for 
Harry to adopt a new skills". The significance of having Snape 
specifically to teach Harry is meant to be crucial for the plot built-
up and characters' development. 

Joan