Why did Snape teach Occlumency?/Snapes Trustworthiness

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 103922

Sonja wrote:
> 
> My understanding is: Dumbledore didn't want to teach Harry 
> Occlumency b/c he didn't want LV to see how close he was to Harry. 
> So he had to find someone else.  Snape was excellent, so he was 
> chosen to teach Harry.  BUT, my problem is, isn't it just as 
> dangerous for LV to see Snape close to Harry?  Wouldn't LV put 
> pressure on Snape to intefere with Harry.  Wouldn't LV question 
> Snape's loyalty if he saw Snape helping Harry?
snip  

Potioncat:
Funny how posts grow a life of their own.  I've been meaning to look 
this one up and answer it, since I was hurried away when I first 
read it.  And in the meantime I've been answering the second part of 
it.

I agree and I've written posts on it as well, but not too many 
others have agreed with me.  But it seems to me that LV will be able 
to get a new look at Snape through LV's contact with Harry.  This 
may be one reason Snape continues with the bad treatment in class 
and stays distant during the sessions.

But I don't know if that is the way JKR sees it.  Was the point that 
DD-LV, DD-HP and HP-LV have such a complicated history that there is 
a danger in those relationships which isn't present with Snape?

But at any rate, I took it as another act Snape took on that 
included "great personal risk."

And by the way, with people coming and going, there is almost always 
someone around who hasn't heard of an idea or someone who has but is 
glad to toss it around again!

Potioncat