DADA Position Cursed Because of Potter's Death?

[Susan Smith]

No: HPFGUIDX 70648

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Dave" <impherring13 at y...> 
wrote:
> > <atroposgryffin at y...> wrote:
> > > Just a thought, but what if James profession after graduation 
was the DADA instructor at Hogwarts.  Then after his family was 
attacked, James and Lily killed, and Harry disappearred-everyone 
thought the position was cursed.

Acoteucla wrote:
You know what?  This is a REALLY good idea.  It makes a lot of
sense, and explains why Snape wants the DADA position so badly.  I 
 personally have not seen it discussed anywhere, but then I've been 
 avoiding most of the DADA threads.  Anyone want to write a rebuttal 
 to this?  Cuz until I see a good one, I'm sold on this idea.

Now me-
>   You asked for a rebuttal on this idea, so I'll try and give you a
> good one.  Supposedly the curse on the DADA job eliminates the
> instuctor after one year, however, Quirrell has apparently been
> teaching at Hogwarts for many years.  In SS (70-71) it says "He was
> fine while he was studyin' outta books but then he took a year off 
to gt some first-hand experience...never been the same since"  How 
then could the position be cursed if Quirrell lasted so long?  
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do not believe we recieve any direct 
reference to Quirrell's age.  I believe it quite possible that he was 
the DADA for more than eleven years.  IMO the curse actually began as 
Harry prepared to enter Hogwarts as this is when the teachers started
dropping like flies. 

Now, A.G.-

Some good points-but I'm thinking even if the origin of the "curse" 
came after Quirrel et al, that James still taught DADA after 
graduation and before his death.  The timeline fits with Snape's 14 
plus year desire etc.  It would also explain why Snape is so keen to 
get the job.

Now, as for the quote you referenced, actually reads "Oh, yeah.  Poor 
bloke.  Brilliant mind.  He was fine while he was studyin' outta 
books..."  It never says that Quirrel taught DADA or anything else at 
Hogwarts for 11-14 years, then took sabbatical, etc.  He could simply 
have been a student, who was a voracious learner from books not 
unlike Hermione.  Then, he continued with advance degrees or training 
or even another career.  Maybe he was a librarian or even worked for 
Gringotts.  He then decided that for his career to advance he needed 
to travel around the world gaining valuable experience.  So he took a 
year off.

We do know however that "he took a year off to get some first-hand 
experience and has never been the same" probably refers to when he 
was traveling through ??? and met the Dark Lord.  

Clearly once he and V. were in cahoots they could then have 
plotted/planned on him going to Hogwarts, applying for the DADA 
position and being there to assist V. with his task.  I think he was 
only a one year teacher because of the way Snape and others relate to 
him.  I mean really if he had been there for over 10 years they would 
have been alot more concerned when he started behaving weird, 
stuttering, etc.  They also would have known what kind of magic he 
was capable of and suspected him when he cursed Harry and broom at 
the Quidditch match.  I just feel like Quirrel was new to the school 
and position.  Hagrid could simple have been referring to knowing 
Quirrel while he was a student.  

But even if he was in position and origin of curse lies here-I think 
we will find that James Poter was DADA instructor (his job)after 
graduation, and Snape hated this!  Just my thought.

A.G.