Self-taught Occlumency? I think not

[nrenka]

No: HPFGUIDX 126903


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> 
wrote:

<snip>

> It also never seems to occur to Harry that with the Room of 
> Requirement at his disposal and Hermione to coach him, he could have 
> learned  OWL potion making, or even Occlumency, without Snape.

Potion making less curious, but Occlumency a very curious comment, 
Pippin.  Do you have any canon that supports the idea that it would be 
learnable for Harry without an experienced teacher?  After all, 
Hermione never mentions books on Occlumency in the library that could 
be used to help Harry--which, given her general inclinations for 
looking things up and reliability in finding them, can in this 
situation be taken as an indication that there weren't any.

I have a model for Occlumency that is by no means perfect, but makes 
some good analogies--it was posted in fits and starts in the past, but 
I have it all together now so I should post it in toto.  Part of what 
I would contend from it is that Occlumency is presented as a set of 
skills that involve the refinement of oneself.  It is not manifested 
in a single charm or action, unlike the Patronus or resisting the 
Imperius curse.  It involves getting down with your entire self, and 
is developed through the learning of mental skills (clear your mind, 
let go of emotion, learn how to resist).

As such, it seems to really require a *partner* who knows Legilimency 
to learn, as it needs that person as both the guider and tester.  
Harry and Hermione and a non-existent book would be rather like two 
kids a and "Teach Yourself Karate" video.  Hint: they're not going to 
get very far.

-Nora goes and digs out the Grand Unified Occlumency Theory