[HPforGrownups] Re: Still wondering why Snape trusts DD! (was: James the Berk?)

[silmariel]

No: HPFGUIDX 107191


> Carolina asked:
> <snip> Just a question, do you think occlumency is basic or advanced
> DE training or was acquired before joining the merry party?

> Carol replied:
> It can't be DE training at all or Voldemort's legilimency would be
> useless as a means of controlling his DEs.  Occlumency isn't *basic* 
> anything: it's evidently a very rare skill that no one except Snape or 
> Dumbledore is capable of teaching Harry. 

Agreed. It was only a joke. It can run in some families (after all someone 
teached it to DD and Voldie) so the knowledge is not spreaded. 

> Moreover, he can't know that Snape is an occlumens or Snape would be unable 
> to spy on him or observe him or attend meetings (whatever he's doing) 
> without giving himself away.

I can't agree with this. If Voldemort is using Snape as a spy, he should know 
that he needs to be an occlumens to do that work. One can't be under the nose 
of a legilimens for 14 years without being an occlumens and Voldemort should 
know, or should be asking himself why DD hasn't detected him in 14 years if 
he is not one.  

> My guess is that Dumbledore taught occlumency to Snape when Snape
> first began spying for him. 

No idea. But it makes sense. Anyway, IMO occlumency is a skill that suits 
Snape, I mean as I see him as a character, maintaining his thoughs private is 
a priority, and occlumency would be a desired skill for him having wars going 
on or not. 

Carolina