DADA

[Claire Doyle]

No: HPFGUIDX 68283

 Melanie wrote:

  >I have a weird question.  I've seen in several posts on several forums over the months I've been a "Potterhead" that Dumbledore doesn't "trust" Snape with the DADA position.  
  >
  >Erm...I guess my question is, why not?  I just don't get what connection there is to teaching kids Defense Against the Dark Arts and Dumbledore thinking Snape might still be evil.  I reckon I could understand it more if it was just "Dark Arts" that he'd be teaching...maybe in that scenario he could be recruiting for Voldy?  But *Defense Against* the Dark Arts...I don't get what's wrong with that.
  >
  >Can someone take my hand and lead me somewhere private and explain the facts of life to me regarding this?
  >



Well, this is my first post, so I figure, why not jump directly into the fray?

I've tossed this thought in my mind back and forth, and I've come up with a couple of options about why this could be:

1) and the most plausible is that Snape is simply not good at DADA. . .just because it's something he enjoys, and just because he's a former DE doesn't mean that he's good at the defensive part of the magic.  He may enjoy it, as we all enjoy things we're not good at, but that doesn't mean he can teach it.

2) putting Snape in the position of DADA sets him up for more time playing the Malfoy and co. puppet, and it would be much more difficult to disguise his OOP status when he's trying to balance playing a DE and teaching proper defense.  It would only make sense that Voldy and his harem would expect Snape to be teaching dark magic, rather than defense.  In keeping Snape out of that position, it allows him greater freedom to spy and not compromise either position.

Those are just a couple that I can think of off the top of my head. . .I'm sure if properly caffeinated I could come up with several more. 

Claire
The Coffee Guru