Can Occlumency be taught ?(was:Umbridge and Harry's Temptations)

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 120056



imamommy wrote:
"Well, I agree with Alla that something was midding from Snape's 
instruction, namely, er, instruction.  The only direction he gave
Harry, IIRC, was to clear his mind.  He never told Harry how to fight
 against him, he never told him how to lock him out, just clear your 
mind.  So, IMO, Snape never really *taught* Harry Occlumency, he just
 attacked, over and over again.  Why this could be is a subject for 
another post."

Del replies :
Could it be simply because Occlumency cannot be taught?

Snape describes it as "an obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful
one". Useful indeed! In a world where wizards can use Imperio and
Legilimency on each other, you'd think Occlumency would be a
compulsory subject for all wizards to learn. But it's not. And why
would that be? I can think of only 2 reasons :

1. It's Dark Magic. But unless we haven't been told everything about
it, I fail to see why it would be classified as such.

2. It can't be taught. Just like resisting the Imperius Curse can't be
taught. Maybe Occlumens are born, not made, just like Metamorphmagi.
Harry resisting the Imperius Curse the year before might have hinted
at him being an Occlumens.

I would also like to repeat something that has been said over and over
again, but that I find important : when teaching the kids to resist
Imperio, Crouch!Moody didn't do anything but put them under the Curse.
Being put under the curse and shaking it seems to be the only way to
learn to resist it. Similarly, it could very well be that learning
Occlumency can be done only be clearing one's mind and shaking a
Legilimency curse.

Del