Why isn't Snape getting a chance at the Defense Against the Dark Arts job?

[White Tiger]

We all know that he's been at the job for years because he really likes the Dark Arts. Any speculation on why Dumbledore won't let Snape become Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?

[redman]

maybe a lack of trust?

ask mobycat he'll tell u.

[Stands Alone]

Moby! Come in here!

[White Tiger]

He knows the answer?

[redman]

yeah probably.

[Mobycat]

OK, here's my theory...

Dumbledore trusts Snape...to a degree. Snape was a death eater who returned to the good side. Pretty much everyone who has said anything in the books (Moody, Sirius, etc) said they would never trust someone who was a death eater. They may know something we don't know...yet.

Which would be more dangerous....potions or DADA? Since Snape was a death eater, I'm sure he's been exposed to some of the stuff that Dumbledore admits he doesn't know.

I think Dumbledore also thinks Snape is weak when it comes to fending off someone...specifically Voldemort. Snape was a Slytherin, after all, and we know that generally speaking, they will do whatever is needed to get ahead - even if it means going back to Voldemort's side. And we know it's only a matter of time before Snape has to confront this (as was hinted at in the cemetery in GoF).

Dumbledore says he trusts Snape - but I think there are limits to that trust. And I think his doubts were confirmed when Snape stopped teaching Harry Occlumency. I imagine we'll find out more in the next book regarding this, but I think mostly it boils down to Snape having been a death eater.

[Stands Alone]

Awsome anwser from Moby once again. :)

[Tenafly Viper]

Originally posted by Mobycat
OK, here's my theory...

Dumbledore trusts Snape...to a degree. Snape was a death eater who returned to the good side. Pretty much everyone who has said anything in the books (Moody, Sirius, etc) said they would never trust someone who was a death eater. They may know something we don't know...yet.

Which would be more dangerous....potions or DADA? Since Snape was a death eater, I'm sure he's been exposed to some of the stuff that Dumbledore admits he doesn't know.

I think Dumbledore also thinks Snape is weak when it comes to fending off someone...specifically Voldemort. Snape was a Slytherin, after all, and we know that generally speaking, they will do whatever is needed to get ahead - even if it means going back to Voldemort's side. And we know it's only a matter of time before Snape has to confront this (as was hinted at in the cemetery in GoF).

Dumbledore says he trusts Snape - but I think there are limits to that trust. And I think his doubts were confirmed when Snape stopped teaching Harry Occlumency. I imagine we'll find out more in the next book regarding this, but I think mostly it boils down to Snape having been a death eater.

I agree completely Moby. Putting Snape in charge of Dark Arts when he was once a Deatheater would be like putting an alcoholic in charge of the bar, it might turn out ok but why take the chance.

[HeadHunter]

probably a better potions teacher then defence :p

[roboxeno]

mby hell get the job in the sixth/seventh book or mby he'll jest destroy the NEw DADA and take the job

[redman]

do u think snape will eventually get the DADA job?

[stonefaced_1]

They have said about all of it.

[adnamasevoltam]

personally think the decision for Dumbledore is more political (kinda) than an actual trust issue....it would just look bad to have a former death eater telling ur kids how to defend themselves against dark arts....i also think the fact that Dumbledore isnt fully aware of all that happens to deatheaters factors in too....just b/c he doesnt want Snape to unknowingly cause something to recure, etc....i think that Snape will eventually get the position...but it probably wont happen until hes proved himself truly good to all...

[Mobycat]

I myself don't think he'll get the job. Only because I don't think he will last through the end of book 7.

It's all speculation, of course.

(If he does end up dying, imagine the bittersweet feelings Harry will have - Snape loses his life in the "battle of good and evil" and yet...Harry is rid of someone he hates very much.)

[Tenafly Viper]

Originally posted by Mobycat
I myself don't think he'll get the job. Only because I don't think he will last through the end of book 7.

It's all speculation, of course.

(If he does end up dying, imagine the bittersweet feelings Harry will have - Snape loses his life in the "battle of good and evil" and yet...Harry is rid of someone he hates very much.)

I agree, I don't think Snape will ever teach DADA and the table is set for him to overcome his own hatred and make a hero’s sacrifice and in doing so exorcise his own demons and redeem himself completely.

[Rocksolidus]

I am a semi-devoted christian and i would never wish ill striving upon anybody, but i kinda wish Snape would die. Die a violent death, in front all four of the houses like during christmas feast or something. Yeah, that would be awesome

[FrodoLover]

kinda off topic.... but i was also wondering why Snape favors Draco over all the other students when Draco's dad is a freaking Death Eater! i guess you could say its because he wants Lucius Malfoy to think that he is still on Voldemorts side...but it just doesnt seem to make much sense. i think it would be a pretty cool twist in the book though if Snape was actually still a death eater :twisted:

[UnicornBlood3]

I think he does that so that Lucius still believes that he is still evil

[Mobycat]

Originally posted by UnicornBlood3
I think he does that so that Lucius still believes that he is still evil

Agreed. I think it could be assumed that Draco tells his father everything that goes on at the school.

[Rocksolidus]

you can bet that draco tells his father everything that he doesn't like at the school, but conveniently lets on about the things he wants changed. like all the times about hagrid, and dumbledore...i'll leave the rest up to you to figure out

[Tenafly Viper]

Snape is definitely keeping up appearances, but his dislike or even hatred for Harry is genuine it isn't an act, plus he is the epitome of Slytherin.

[drjones]

While moby's explaination is really good, and very realistic, I don't really agree. I'm a pretty big Harry Potter fan, you all probably know that, but I don't have any trouble admitting that these stories are fiction. I think it's just supposed to be ironic that Snape is always hoping for Defense, but year after year, the teacher leaves for one reason or another, and he never gets it.

[Mobycat]

Originally posted by drjones
While moby's explaination is really good, and very realistic, I don't really agree. I'm a pretty big Harry Potter fan, you all probably know that, but I don't have any trouble admitting that these stories are fiction. I think it's just supposed to be ironic that Snape is always hoping for Defense, but year after year, the teacher leaves for one reason or another, and he never gets it.

Another possibility, of course. I don't think (or at least I *hope*) there isn't anyone who takes the books so seriously as to think they are even remotely non-fiction. But for me, it's fun to speculate on these things, even if they have absolutely nothing to do with the main story line.

[Tenafly Viper]

Originally posted by drjones
While moby's explaination is really good, and very realistic, I don't really agree. I'm a pretty big Harry Potter fan, you all probably know that, but I don't have any trouble admitting that these stories are fiction. I think it's just supposed to be ironic that Snape is always hoping for Defense, but year after year, the teacher leaves for one reason or another, and he never gets it. I think most fans enjoy getting together and speculating on what the next couple of books might bring. Especially during the layoff between books and films. I know I do, but they're fictional and entertainment. That's why I think those who choose to arguing about them are silly. Although I've never really seen any of that around here.

[drjones]

Originally posted by Mobycat
Another possibility, of course. I don't think (or at least I *hope*) there isn't anyone who takes the books so seriously as to think they are even remotely non-fiction. But for me, it's fun to speculate on these things, even if they have absolutely nothing to do with the main story line.

I totally agree. Speculating about stories like this is always fun. You find some interesting possibilities when you ask "what if." Saving Private Ryan was based a "what if" movie based on a true story. To disregard my imagination however, I'd have to say the the Snape/Dark Arts teacher thing has no real meaning. It's just an ongoing joke. I did like your analysis though, moby. Very interesting.

[hotshot3355]

I think that Snape will get the DADA job sooner or later Dumbledor will give him a chance (I think) but if he gets the chance I dont think it will last, Snape hates most of the kids and will prob. like jinx one of them of something and Dumbledor will have to get rid of him. But thats just me.

[Rocksolidus]

yeah, probably. I don't know why he hasn't jinxed or cursed anybody jut or the fun of it. I would!! and i'm in a good mood..

[rzrbks]

I agree with what you say Mobycat, a question however:

Mobycat

Dumbledore says he trusts Snape - but I think there are limits to that trust. And I think his doubts were confirmed when Snape stopped teaching Harry Occlumency. I imagine we'll find out more in the next book regarding this, but I think mostly it boils down to Snape having been a death eater.

Is it just a matter of trusting Snape by Dumbledore or is it that Dumbledore was hoping that Snape could set his hatred for James aside long enough to help Harry ?

It seems to me that it would take a bigger person than most I know to forgive James for what he did to Snape. That would be especially true if Snape had feelings for Lily. Snape would probably still blame James for taking his "true love"(in Snape's mind) from him. And, if this were the case, every time Snape looked at Harry, Snape would be seeing the son he "should" have gotten. Most any wizard father would like to have a son like Harry.

Just a thought. or two

[Mobycat]

Originally posted by rzrbks
Is it just a matter of trusting Snape by Dumbledore or is it that Dumbledore was hoping that Snape could set his hatred for James aside long enough to help Harry ?

Both, I think. He trusts to a degree, but there are still doubts. I think he was always questioning his decision to have Snape teach Harry - he was *hoping* Snape could do it...but it turned out he could not do it. Although, I think if Harry had not seen into Snape's mind, Snape would have continued. It was a moment of embarrassment for Snape - and considering he already went through that embarrassment once, he refused to do it again. He didn't want Harry seeing other things. I believe this is also why he emptied his mind of *something* before he began teaching him. The question is...what was that *something*?

It seems to me that it would take a bigger person than most I know to forgive James for what he did to Snape. That would be especially true if Snape had feelings for Lily. Snape would probably still blame James for taking his "true love"(in Snape's mind) from him. And, if this were the case, every time Snape looked at Harry, Snape would be seeing the son he "should" have gotten. Most any wizard father would like to have a son like Harry.

Possible, too. Of course the whole Snape had feeling for Lily is still speculation as well. Hopefully we will find out if it's true. If it's never mentioned in book 6 or 7, I think we can assume he didn't (or at least if he did, it was of no importance).

BUT... "Most any wizard would like to have a son like Harry" is of course a "what if" scenario. If Harry hadn't been a Potter, he may have ended up just another student, like Justin Finch-Fetchley (or however you spell it). He wouldn't have been brought up by the Dursleys, he probably wouldn't have had the "awe" response with every new thing he saw in the wizarding world - he'd be more like Ron, I think. It's there, and most is taken for granted. I don't think Harry takes anything for granted (well, except maybe for Hermione helping with homework). But he also has to be careful - he could easily fall into that, especially because of how every adult dotes on him.

It's going to be really interesting now - if he figures out the prophecy basically means only Voldemort can do him in - will he treat Snape differently, knowing he really has nothing to fear? Or Filch? While he has a LOT to worry about, he could also get a very inflated head. Draco? A non-issue at this point, according to the prophecy.

[rzrbks]

messed up, sorry:o :(

[rzrbks]

It's going to be really interesting now - if he figures out the prophecy basically means only Voldemort can do him in - will he treat Snape differently, knowing he really has nothing to fear? Or Filch? While he has a LOT to worry about, he could also get a very inflated head. Draco? A non-issue at this point, according to the prophecy.


Interesting that you would read the prophecy to mean that only Voldemort can kill Harry--

BUT... "Most any wizard would like to have a son like Harry" is of course a "what if" scenario. If Harry hadn't been a Potter, he may have ended up just another student, like Justin Finch-Fetchley (or however you spell it).

agreed, that's the rational approach, but many parents aren't rational about their child. I have been around parents who were sure that their child could be just like ___________(fill in the star) if they just had more time, coaching, training etc., and I think that Snape would have been much like that---------although Snape might be more like Lucius Malfoy in that respect. Then, nothing that his kid did would be good enough--you've given me more to think about

[Monkey D. Luffy]

Dumbledore has Snape stay potions teacher ( which i think is by the slytherin common room) to keep the children of death eaters in line as well as to feed them bogus information information - so they can run back and tell the daddy deatheaters what dumbledore wants them to know.

i think that young women auror in the order of the phoenix
Tonks will be the new dada professor

[Monkey D. Luffy]

Plus slytherin and griffindor .. have Potions together .. not dada

[Fable]

if snape was the dada, who would be the potions? maybe that's why he's not getting a shot....

[LrdVldmrt28]

The reason to that Snape might not have the position is the theory that he is a vampire and by keeping him the potions teacher might be a way of keeping that secret.

[Fable]

yeah i've heard that theory but i don't know how it got started up, what's the proof for it? just wondering :)

[_manuel_]

Originally posted by LrdVldmrt28
The reason to that Snape might not have the position is the theory that he is a vampire and by keeping him the potions teacher might be a way of keeping that secret.

Theory is the keyword there...

[m00se]

You also have to keep in mind that the DADA job is supposedly "jinxed", and J.K. Rowling can't keep up the appearance that it's jinxed if she makes Snape the DADA teacher, because if he got the job, he'd be there for a year then would have to lose the job somehow. There is no way he won't be part of the story unless he dies... and I think the only way he'll get the job is if he gets it in Harry's seventh year, or the "jinx" is broken.