Snape and Harry 2 (Was: Get yer piping hot Snape Theory...)

[Sydney]

No: HPFGUIDX 85459

Mags wrote, RE Snape and the DA job:

> A) The very subject matter puts Snape in a compromising position 
wrt 
> his status as a "double agent" for the Order.  What do you think 
> Lucius Malfoy is going to report back to Voldemort if a "loyal DE" 
is 
> busy schooling students in how to repel dark spells?  Plus it 
> outwardly looks like DD purposely keeps his "suspect" faculty 
member 
> out of a position that would indirectly enable Voldemort to 
> infiltrate / affect the quality of the DADA education Hogwarts 
> students receive.

Hmmm... the only difficulty with this is that Snape himself seems to 
want the DADA job quite badly, and (from OoP) is very angry at not 
being given it.  If it was all about the cover, it seems odd that a 
professional like Snape would be so violently against it.  Unless 
it's all a big act, which is certainly a possiblility.
> 
> B) Snape's inability to suppress his dislike for James Potter's 
> offspring would interfere with the DADA instruction Harry receives 
at 
> Hogwarts.  
<SNIP>
> DD knows that Harry must somehow become equipped with the 
knowledge / 
> skills to perform DADA-related tasks (beyond his natural 
> proclivities).  Why put a man whose hatred runs so deep into an 
> authority position that would put Harry at risk?  While he trusts 
> Snape, DD must also realize that there's a possibility Voldemort 
> would try to manipulate DE Snape into influencing the quality of 
> Harry's DADA education -- and that Snape's own hatred for James / 
> James' son provides an easy ponit of access.

The problem with THIS explanation, is Harry's not exactly gotten the 
world's greatest DADA instruction so far-- surely Snape couldn't be 
a much worse teacher than either Quirrel, Lockhart, or Umbrige?  And 
don't potions classes, which feature poisons and explosions, involve 
as much risk as DA?  No, it doesn't make sense, if the quality of 
education was the concern, that Dumbledore would consider Umbrige 
preferable to Snape.  

Interesting points, but I'm sticking with my Jinx theory!  

Sydney