Snape and Dumbledores trust

[jodel at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 54740

Lee points out;
<< - It is common knowledge that Snape wants the defence against the 

dark arts job.  >>

Common Knowledge, like the public, is sometimes an ass. 

In point of fact, it appears only to be student rumor that claims that Snape 
wants the DADA job. Snape's opening speech is enough to make it very clear 
that he sincerely CARES about his precious Potions. What seems most likely is 
that while he manages at least a modicum of respect for his fellow house 
heads and most of the rest of the staff, he shows very little hesitation over 
sharpening his tongue at the expense of the DADA teachers. And the students 
draw a straight line between two points and attribute it to wanting the job 
himself.

My own suspicion is that he he and Dumbledore have a philosophical difference 
of oppinion over whether an effective defense against the Dark Arts can 
actually be taught without a grounding in the Dark Arts themselves. 
Dumbledore, for his part is scraping the bottom of the barrel so badly in 
trying to fill the position by wanting to hire only candidates who do NOT 
have a background as practitioners of the Dark Arts, themselves (although he 
shaded the line there with Lupin, who is, after all, a Dark Creature). 
Severus  sneers at this notion, (which, you must admit is a safe enough 
subject in which he CAN openly sneer at a notion of the Headmasters') he 
sneers at the people Dumbledore hires, and throughly enjoys watching them 
fall on their faces. 

When they do. 

He detests Lupin, but does not actually sneer at him, and there was no 
sneering at "Moody", either. Just a lot of warriness and dislike. He is well 
aware that his own background as a Dark wizard disqualifies him for the 
position in Dumbledore's eyes, even if he did want it. Which he really 
doesn't. But he does really LIKE to have someone that it's safe for him to 
sneer at, and these Johnny-come-lately DADA upstarts make excellent targets.

-JOdel