Self-taught Occlumency? I think not

[Karen Barker]

No: HPFGUIDX 126923


Nora wrote:
> Snape's education in Occlumency and skills at it are my admitted 
> hole.  However, we have some hints in canon as to Dumbledore' 
> ultimate disappointment in Snape's actions as teacher.  Is it 
> really so hard to imagine Snape letting his personal interests 
> and feelings get the better of him--unless you want to cling to 
> the MD reading of Snape in the Shack, it makes thematic sense for 
> the character.

I was wondering if occlumency might be considered to be a 'dark 
art'.  Sorry but I don't have the book to hand but in OOP, Sirius 
or Lupin when reassuring Harry after he'd seen James' behaviour in 
the Pensieve said something along the lines of 'Snape was an 
unpopular boy who was up to his eyes in the dark arts and whatever 
else James was, he always hated the dark arts'.  Perhaps Snape 
learnt this through his meddling with the dark arts (self-taught or 
with tutoring, who knows) and that is why someone like Professor 
McGonagall wasn't able to teach it to Harry - she seems to be pretty 
hot on all other types of magic.

Karen