Snape's job

[Mandy]

No: HPFGUIDX 44291

bluesqueak wrote:
> 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]
 
> 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...

While reading this, I was reminded of a theory I read in a fanfiction 
story somewhere, one that makes a lot of sense.  
It's been assumed by a great many people that Snape is a spy for 
Dumbledore.  What this theory said, was that because of this it would 
have been dangerous for Snape to take the DADA position; how could he 
have explained to Voldemort about teaching the next generation how to 
defeat him?  I phrased it badly, but that's the general gist.
bluesqueak's point about Snape's guilt is a good one, but I'm not 
sure that would be his main reason.  IMO, that would seem like a 
reason for him *to teach* DADA, so that if the students came across a 
DE, they would have a better chance of surviving.

Just my two cents.

l.j.
"Yesterday is history.
Tommorow is a mystery.
Today is a gift...
That's why we call it The Present."