Protection Charm: Legilimens By: Franciscus Fieldwake

History

Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in . Spoilers will be present within the article.

"Point me!"

This article is about the general skill of penetrating one's mind. You may be looking for the .
"Sectumsempra!"

It has been suggested that this article be into multiple articles. ()

Harry Potter's mind being invaded by Severus Snape during their Occlumency lessons

"The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by any invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing, Potter. Or at least most minds are... It is true, however, that those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly." — regarding the art of Legilimency

Legilimency is the act of navigating through the many layers of a person's mind and correctly interpreting one's findings. A person who practises this art is known as a Legilimens. might call this "," but practitioners disdain the term as naive. The opposite of Legilimency is , which is used to shield one's mind from the invasion and influence of a Legilimens.

Some magical , such as , can also perform Legilimency.

History

It is unknown who invented the art of Legilimency and just when it was invented. It is safe to assume that the art has been around for a fairly long time, as , a very skilled Legillimens, lived in the 11th century, and, along with the other Hogwarts founders, enchanted the to have the skill. Other witches and wizards have used Legilimency on several different occasions as well.

was a talented Legilimens who would frequently read those around her and verbally respond to those thoughts. She did so without malicious intent but was often scolded for looking into others' minds without their permission. Whereas most had to learn Legilimency, Queenie was born with a great aptitude for the skill.

Harry Potter's first Occlumency lesson with Snape

used Legilimency on Harry Potter while attempting to train him in Occlumency in the 1995-1996 school year. He also used it and in 1997 by making direct eye contact with Harry in order to find out where he learned the Sectumsempra spell and to find out the location of his old advanced potion-making textbook that contained said spell. Snape was able to use it during a with Harry later that year, anticipating all of Harry's attempted spells and countering and negating them before they could be performed.

Voldemort has used Legilimency extensively, both wandlessly and nonverbally, to enter the minds of those he wished to interrogate. It was even said that it was "the dark lord's pleasure to invade the mind". In the past, Voldemort entered the minds of his victims and create visions that would drive them to madness. Due to the link between himself and Harry, both can access each other's thoughts, if Voldemort does not block it off with Occlumency. Voldemort has been considered, mainly by his Death Eaters, to be the most accomplished Legilimens ever.

also used Legilimency to find out 's plot to lure Harry to the ; whether he used his wand and incantation or not is unknown.