Snape & DADA: hearsay, or a true slight?

[avonlea0112]

No: HPFGUIDX 32047

Mahoney wrote:
> A tangent struck me while reading the speculation in regards 
potions 
> being a dark art.
> 
> If Snape has such a jones for the DADA job, why doesn't he get it?  
> Perhaps he's really lousy at DADA, but Dumbledore goes outside of 
> Hogwarts and basically scrapes the bottom of the barrel to find an 
> instructor.  So even if Snape is not 100% qualified, I would think 
> he'd have to be *really* lousy at it to be overlooked every year so 
> far.  And if he was really not qualified, Snape seems the type who 
> wouldn't lust after a position that he didn't have a chance in hell 
> at due to lack of qualification.  
> 
<snip>
 
> So really, the only solid 'proof' that Snape wants the job comes 
from 
> student gossip.  (Unless I'm not remembering something.  Which is 
> definitely possible.)
> 

I think the whole idea of Snape coveting DADA is too much fun to be 
just gossip - I for one will be quite dissapointed if it turns out 
that's all it is!

Judging from all your observations on Snapes character (which were 
very thorough, and fun reading, BTW) he can't possibly be deluded 
about his own abilities.  I also don't think Dumbledore would 
deliberatly withold the position from him when Snape so desperatly 
wants it, and also when Snape seems so well qualified, unless 
Dumbledore had an excellent reason.  

I do think Snape probably would be an incredible DADA teacher.  
First, he's had some experience from both sides of the issue.  
Secondly, his personal pride would see to it that he would be the 
best DADA teacher Hogwarts ever had, or he wouldn't teach it at all.  
Thirdly, with another battle against Voldy looming, he'd be sure his 
students were perfectly prepared (whether they wanted preparation or 
not.)

Therefore, if Dumbledore will hire a quack like Lockheart over Snape, 
he must have a strategic reason.  It could be a simple matter of not 
having another Potions teacher, but that seems ridiculous.  "Oh, Mrs, 
Lestrange, could you wait a minute?  I don't know how to counter that 
curse you're about to send, but I can whip up a really mean Polyjuice 
Potion."  

So Dumbledore must have a reason, but I can't think of anything 
logical at the moment.  Any ideas?

~Avonlea~