For Meserimus there was a difference between stealing results, or writing notes on your wrists and obtaining the results through the use of some other form of magical skill. After all Legilemency was considerably more difficult to master than information on Goblin Battles from the 16th century, and if one mastered the suprerior skill in order to prosper at the more simplistic task then as far as Meserimus was concerned the results were warranted. It was perhaps mean spirited of him to think that some classes were superior to others but as someone who had mastered an academic subject he did find himself looking down on some other subjects. Potions, alchemy, herbology, charms, DADA, transfiguration, and perhaps the occaisional other would be all that amounted to truly worthy of study- the others...well 'soft' subjects at the best.

When she revealed her true motivation was actually to learn Occlumency Meserimus could not help but be surprised. 'Have you any reason to fear the invastion of your mind?' he asked, as a head of house he needed to confirm for himself that nothing was threatening the students of his house. After discovering the threat apparently posed to Mister Leverett by other elements of his life, he was perhaps being a little too cautios in dealing with his students. 'Any reason you need occlumency to gaurd your thoughts?'