Why *didn't* Dumbledore fill DADA post? (Re: Potion Master...)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 83448

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Wendy" <hebrideanblack at e...> 
wrote:
> 
> The second thing that occurs to me is that perhaps Snape really 
> *has* applied for the position every year, but doesn't actually 
want 
> the job. It could be something he and Dumbledore agreed upon to 
> create the appearance of tension between the two of them. Snape 
> applies every year, Dumbledore turns him down, of *course* Snape 
> can't stand that barmy old codger. It would give Snape an excuse 
to 
> appear angry or disloyal to Dumbledore should the need arise.

 
Jen: This one seems like a good bet to me. Because if Snape really 
*did* want the job, and the only barrier is personal reservations on 
Dumbledore's part, then surely the dire situation in OOTP would help 
DD overcome his hang-up!  "...Educational Decree Twenty-two was 
passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current headmaster being 
unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry 
should select an appropriate person." (OOTP, US, chap. 15, p. 307).

If Snape could teach DADA, whether he wants to or not, why didn't DD 
move him over for the year and look for a temporary Potions teacher 
so that Umbridge wasn't appointed? Maybe I'm assuming too much to 
say another Potions Master is readily available. 

Unless Dumbledore wanted a Ministry offical at Hogwarts. 

Sure, it could be a plot device, to bring in Umbridge (or any MOM 
representative) to depict the tensions between Hogwarts and the MOM 
(i.e., Dumbledore and Fudge).

There could be more, though. It's a good idea to know your *enemy* 
and the MOM is definitely an enemy to the Order in OOTP. Surely 
Dumbledore, who knows the castle so well and understands the 
protections and enchantments in place, wouldn't have any trouble 
getting confidential MOM information from a Ministry official housed 
in his territory.

Or it could just be what we're told, that Dumbledore couldn't find 
anyone ;). But that's not as much fun to speculate about!