How and when did Snape learn Occlumency ?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 116470


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "delwynmarch" <delwynmarch at y...>
wrote:
> 
> We know that Snape is a superb Occlumens now and apparently a good
> Legilimens as well. But when did he learn that ? And who taught 
> him ?
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> Del, 

bboyminn:

First I think Occlumency and Legilimency are an in-grained talents
similar to musical talent. You could teach me to peck out a couple
tunes on the piano, but by no means, given my lack of musical talent,
would I ever be a piano player. The same with Occlumency, you could
teach a person to demonstrate Occlumens ability under ideal
conditions, but that falls far short of /being/ an Occlumens.

I think Harry because of his previously demonstrated ability to block
the Impereus Curse, is logically also talented at Occlumency. And, he
demonstrates as much on a couple occassions during the Occlumency
lessons with Snape.

As far as Snape, given what little we know about his past, it is
likely that Snape was a very closed off person to start with. I think
this lead to a natural ability to hide his emotions from people, which
in turn lead to the natural developement of his in-grained Occlumency
talent. Also, Snape's general talents and bank of knowledge seem far
above average. It's likely that Snape spend a great deal of his time
researching the library, much like Riddle, and as little time as
possible interacting with other students. So, to some extent Snape's
ability is a blend of self-taught, and enhanced by a circumstance
created need.

However, recognising this talent, either Voldemort or Dumbledore, or
perhaps both might have taught Snape to better use his skill and
thereby serve the cause better. Remember Snape is a spy, and whether
you believe Voldemort sent him to Dumbledore to act as a double-agent,
or whether Dumbledore somehow recruted him, his Occlumency ability
would have been a primary asset in his ability to spy. 

So, I think Snape both comes by his talent naturally, and as a natural
process owing to life circumstances developed the skill on his own,
but I won't discount the possiblity that someone help him further
develop the skill.

As far as the skill of Legilimency, I don't think we have enough
evidence of that. At best we have a few implications, but to a kid
like Harry or any kid for that matter, it frequently seems as if
authority figures can read minds. Usually, in those case however, the
guilt is either written clearly on our young faces, or the /mind
reader/ is just fishing for possibilities.

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn (was bboy_mn)