Snape's job

[bluesqueak]

No: HPFGUIDX 44149

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., sugarkadi at a... wrote:

> Sirius Kase wrote:
> > What you have posted is closest to what I believe, I think that 
> > prior to Harry's first year, Quirrel was at Hogwarts but not in 
> > the role of DADA instructor.  So Snape misses out on the DADA 
> >  appointment a minimum of 4 times.
> 
> Katey replied:
> There's something in relation to Snape that I've been thinking 
about for a while and I'll post it now.  And I apologize if it's been 
discussed before, I'm fairly new to the list.  
> 
> Do we really know that Snape wants the DADA job?  I don't remember 
reading that anywhere, so if I've missed it just tell me and that 
will mess up my whole theory, but it's all good.  Percy says 
everyone "knows" he wants the job.  Often what everyone knows is not 
the truth(aka gossip).  <Snip>> 
> My point is, that Snape has had a reason to dislike all the DADA 
teachers besides the fact that they have the DADA job.  Anyone else 
have thoughts on this?
> 
> ~Katey


There is some canon support for the idea that Snape *doesn't* want 
the DADA job. In CoS when The Trio and Hagrid are discussing 
Lockhart, Hermione says:

"Professor Dumbledore obviously thought he was the best man for the 
job -"

and Hagrid replies:

"He was the *on'y* man for the job. ... An' I mean the *on'y* one. " 
[CoS p. 88 UK paperback]

This strongly suggests that Lockhart was the *only* person to apply 
for the job, which suggests in turn that Snape does not want the job 
and is known by Dumbledore [and the entire staff, including Hagrid ]
not to want the job (otherwise, given the evidence in PoA that Snape 
*can* teach DADA, I think Dumbledore would have asked him to put in 
an application).

Besides, Snape is an ex-DE, and its been argued before on this board 
that he's eaten up by guilt for the things he's done as a DE. Can you 
imagine his feelings at having to teach DADA? Looking at trusting, 
innocent student faces, as you try and teach them to defend 
themselves against curses you've really used on people... possibly 
even on their parents or grandparents...

Urrgh! No, somehow I *don't* think Snape wants the DADA job. It's 
just student rumour, possibly fueled by his substituting for the DADA 
teacher on occasion (before Harry arrived) and showing how well he 
knows the subject (though slightly weak on the geography of dark 
creatures [grin] - see FBAWTFT)