Snape as an Occlumens

[boyd_smythe]

No: HPFGUIDX 106209

> Penny Brooks wrote:
> I have a question, and I've done some searching of files to see if 
> it's been discussed previously--I haven't found anything, so 
> hopefully it hasn't.  Here goes:
> 
> In OooP, we learn that Snape is an occlumens, and presumably a 
> legilimens, when he has to teach Harry occlumency.  What I'm 
> wondering is:  why hasn't Snape used this skill before?  There are 
> many situations in the previous books where Snape has accused Harry 
> of doing things he did/didn't do, and if he were penetrate minds, as 
> he does in the occlumency lessons, why didn't he do so at those 
times 
> to learn the truth?  An example...in CoS, Hermione steals 
ingredients 
> from the potions cupboard, but Snape accuses Harry...all he'd have 
to 
> do is a little mind-reading, and he'd know it wasn't him.  It seems 
> that Snape's animosity for Harry would give him a propensity to do a 
> little mind-reading on Harry.

boyd:

Sure, Penny, and he could also have used Veritaserum. Or as, Umbridge 
was considering, Crucio. So why doesn't he? Of course, as a plot 
device it would take too much of the intrigue away, but it also gets 
back to morality in the WW. Many posts have been written on this 
before, but here's my version.

Many in the WW believe the end justifies the means. Include in this 
list Salazar, LV, all true DEs, Umbridge, and, interestingly, Dobby in 
CoS. Sirius swerved close to this path several times in PoA, as well. 
The MoM authorized aurors to kill DEs back in the first rise of LV. 
And there has been much debate here over whether Dumbledore is using 
Harry as a weapon without regard for Harry's well-being (see the many 
awe-inspiring MAGIC DISHWASHER posts).

Yet we have seen many other instances of individuals in the WW not 
usurping other wizards' freedoms even to do a bit of likely good. This 
must be why DD doesn't just go around AK'ing the DE's Harry saw during 
the Blood, Flesh and Bone incantation. After all, what if the DEs 
change their minds and turn on LV (as it appears Snape did) or are 
there unwillingly (as Pettigrew claims to be in PoA)? Frankly, the 
good guys seem to want only to defend themselves and their friends in 
a reactive way most of the time. Do we really think that in HBP there 
will be OoP'ers trying to AK the DEs who broke into the MoM and tried 
to kill DD and Harry?

No, DD and the other good guys tend to give the baddies enough rope to 
demonstrate their ESE-ness right here right now, then take them down. 
Even then, they mostly seem to prefer prison to death for the baddies.

So why doesn't Snape use Legilimens or Veritaserum on Harry? Because 
the good guys don't do that without absolute proof of someone's 
badness (e.g. Crouch!Moody at the end of GoF).

--boyd
Who believes Snape is one of the good guys, but also a @$#&%!
And that James in the Pensieve demonstrated more than bad manners in 
his dealings with Snape. ESE!James, anyone?