"I thought he could overcome his feelings..."

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 129090

a_svirn:
> It is also the man who is supposed to be a "superb Ocllumence". 
> Well, he has to be, because whenever his loyalties lie, he is 
> successfully deceiving at least one of the two most powerful 
> wizards in the Potterverse (if not both of them). And doesn't the 
> first requirement for Occlumency is the ability to detach oneself 
> from one's emotions? If Snape is capable to achieve this with LV, 
> surely he can handle Harry? And if he can't it makes one really 
> wonder about his motivations. 
> Personally, I think that he perfectly able to "overcome his 
> emotions" in an emergency and that he staged the whole episode with 
> the Pensieve. 


SSSusan:
The other oft-cited scene where Snape lets loose with his emotions is 
the scene in PoA after he learns Sirius has escaped and he suspects 
Harry of being involved.  He's right angry there, and there's no 
containing his emotions.  In fact, Fudge seems truly appalled by the 
venom of Snape's outburst (says "the fellow seems quite 
unbalanced").  I'm curious whether you see this as also a place where 
Snape was play-acting?  

I'm not trying to *disagree* with you about the Pensieve scene; I'm 
just genuinely curious what you make of our Potions Master in the PoA 
scene and whether you think he was acting or that it was a true 
exception to his being able to control his emotions.  You make a good 
point that Snape has told us a successful Occlumens must be able to 
control his emotions, and, well, Snape *is* still alive, so he must 
be able to do that at times.  

Siriusly Snapey Susan