[HPforGrownups] Snape as Head of Slytherin

[Margaret Dean]

No: HPFGUIDX 30576

Littlered32773 at yahoo.com wrote:
> 
> Does anyone find it odd that someone as young as Snape (early to mid
> 30's according to interviews with JK, and the fact that he went to
> school with James), could be Head of Slytherin House?  It seems that
> the other HoH's are much older.  We know McGonagall is in her 70's
> (again interviews) and I don't see Sprout and Flitwick as much
> younger.  Given this, and Snape's  murkey past (yes, yes, Dumbledore
> vouched for him, but he WAS involved with Voldy as far as we know),
> doesn't it seem odd that he would be a HoH?  I get the impression
> from the books that he's been working at Hogwarts for several years
> before Harry arrives, though it couldn't be more than 10-12 (if they
> allow recent grads to work there immediately), so how did he move up
> to the prestigious HoH so quickly?

Because he's the only one who would take the job?

Seriously, it could very well be that the previous Head of
Slytherin House was one of the casualties of Voldy War I.  Also,
Snape might have both Dumbledore and influential former DE's like
Malfoy behind his appointment, given his "double agent" status. 
This could also be a partial explanation of why Snape favors
Draco Malfoy, if Lucius helped him get the HoH position.  Also
why you catch him smirking in CoS when Draco is telling him how
he'll get his dad to push for Snape as Headmaster.

Tangential to this:  assuming that Snape's fundamental loyalty
=is= to Dumbledore (which as a Snapefan of sorts, I do tend to
assume), I wonder if he and Dumbledore actually have an
"understanding" that if anything does happen to Dumbledore, Snape
=will= become Headmaster, therefore letting the DE's and LV think
they have achieved a victory when they in fact haven't.  Can you
imagine how horrified the Trio would be?  :)


--Margaret Dean
  <margdean at erols.com>