Snape, Snape, Snape--favorite moments (Re: Snape's involvement in the...)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 169357

sylviampj wrote:
<snip>
> As regards Spinner's End, it's important to remember that Bellatrix
is also an accomplished occlumens since Snape refers in HBP to Draco
having lessons from his aunt Bellatrix.  So presumably she is also a
legilemens. This in my opinion is why Snape spends some time looking
out of the window at Spinner's End. We know that legilemency depends
on eye contact and I don't think he wants to make eye contact with
Bellatrix while he is gathering his thoughts and trying to think quickly.
> 
> As you can gather I am on the side of those who think Snape is a
good guy! Roll on July because I cannot stand the suspense much longer!

Carol responds:
I'm also a DDM!Snaper, but I don't agree with your first paragraph.
First, I'm not sure that it's necessary to be a Legilimens to be an
Occlumens, but even if it is, Snape is a superb Occlumens, and if he
can fool Voldemort, supposedly the greatest Legilimens in the world,
he can certainly fool Bellatrix. Note, too, that the rudimentary
Occlumency taught to Draco by Bellatirx is readily detectable by
Legilimens Snape. If Snape's were detectable, he'd be dead (and Draco
will be in for a Crucio at the least if he tries that trick on Voldemort).

We see Snape meeting Narcissa's eyes, and it's likely that what he
sees there is her fears for Draco. He doesn't need to use Legilimency
on Bellatrix to know exactly what she thinks of him, and to do so
would arouse her suspicions further. If she tried Legilimency on him,
he would just use his invisible Occlumency. (Notice that when he
rhetorically asks her if she thinks that he's somehow "hoodwinked"
Voldemort, he doesn't specifically mention Occlumency. I don't think
he wants to give away his secret to an enemy (and Bella is Snape's
enemy even if he's not DDM, but especially so if he is).

Snape is very much in control during the entire conversation with
Bellatrix and I see no evidence of his avoiding her gaze, or any
reason to do so. He only goes to the window and looks out (checking
for spies? Giving himself a moment to think!) after Narcissa starts to
speak. Bellatrix's doubts he can deal with, having already told almost
exactly the same story to Voldemort. Narcissa's problem is much more
serious and disturbing because it's Snape's problem, too.

Carol, who would dearly love to see Snape trounce Bellatrix in a duel
but suspects that that honor will go to Neville, whose nemesis she is