Snape as new DADA teacher (was "New Dark Arts Teacher")

[michelle.pagan at colorado.edu]

No: HPFGUIDX 69187



>From the passage in the book, it really sounds as if Harry didn't get an O on 
his potions examination (I would argue it sounds like he might have scraped by 
an A)  Since McGonagall said that Snape only takes O students into his NEWT 
level class, it would be extremely difficult for Harry to get into it (not 
that he wants to be with Snape anymore anyway) I don't really see Dumbledore 
sweeping in and forcing Snape to take on Harry like some have suggested.  But 
I really do like the theory put forth by Hedge that it's probably a good time 
for Snape to finally get the position.  From the book, again, it sounds as if 
Harry most definitely got an O in DADA, so if Snape took over it, he has the 
required grades to get into the advanced class (and if he doesn't, I can't 
imagine who does).  If Potions is taken over by someone else, perhaps they 
would allow A grades to get in.  

I know in JKR's interview she said that Dumbledore was afraid of how Snape 
would be.  IMHO, I'm astounded that Dumbledore was so...nonchalant about the 
fact that "he thought" Snape could handle himself and anger at James, but oh 
well, it didn't turn out that way, so Occulemency (spelling wrong, I know) was 
a bust.  Despite everyone telling Harry he *had* to go back and ask Snape to 
take him back, the boy is 15.  Snape is an adult, and I really think should 
get A LOT of flack from Dumbledore.  More than flack, but I can't imagine what 
because he's a very necessary and knowledgeable person.  

At this point in the war, students need to know DADA, but of course, Snape 
hasn't proven himself (in fact the opposite in the his occulemency classes wth 
Harry)...but if it happened that he took over the class, what an education 
those students would get from someone who knew more about the Dark Arts than 
most 7th years when he entered school!  

You know...as we've seen, Neville does much better than expected when he 
doesn't have Snape criticizing him...I wonder if Dumbledore might be wrong and 
Snape might actually thrive teaching DADA?

-Polaris