Self-taught Occlumency? I think not

[kempermentor]

No: HPFGUIDX 126930


Karen wrote:
> 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.

Kemper now:
This has been an interesting thread.  No I don't think it's a dark 
art.  But I think Snape did develop his mastery of Occlumency as a 
defense against 'mental' abuse at home.  I suspect that Snape's dad 
may have used Legilimency 'against' Snape.  The dad seems 
controlling, as abuser are, so it's easy to see how the dad 
would 'assault' his son's mind to see if his son was telling the 
truth about something or to see what interactions Snape had with his 
mother... thereby also keeping an 'eye' on his wife when he's away. 
was to find out what he had been doing or maybe what his mom was he's 
away.

Snape either developed Occlumency on his own... as many victims of 
continued violence disassociate mentally... or his mom secretly 
taught him.

just some guesses.

Kemper