[HPforGrownups] Re: Why DD might not want Snape for DADA job

Janet Anderson norek_archives2 at hotmail.com
Sun Apr 4 18:33:27 UTC 2004


No: HPFGUIDX 95149

Carol said:

>I have no doubt whatever that Snape is a dangerous man, one
>whom Dumbledore wants on his own side, but he isn't a criminal and I
>very much doubt that DD would have hired him, much less trusted him
>with difficult missions outside the school, if he had ever performed
>one of the Unforgiveable Curses. (What did he do for Voldy? IMO he
>made complicated and possibly deadly potions.)

I disagree with this for two reasons.

First, we already know that Dumbledore is not averse to working with 
Mundungus Fletcher, who is not only a thief, but not even a reformed thief 
-- he's receiving stolen goods while working for the OoP, and (which I 
personally consider much worse) steals silverware from Grimmauld Place, 
which means he is either stealing from Sirius or Molly who are a) his hosts 
and b) his fellow order members. So a criminal record, past or present, or 
even ongoing criminal activity wouldn't necessarily preclude someone's 
working for Dumbledore; it's probably something he decides on a case-by-case 
basis depending on circumstances and (more importantly) his knowledge of the 
person.

Secondly, I think that Dumbledore's trust of Snape is the most powerful 
element in his reformation -- whatever the reasons (and wouldn't we all like 
to know) behind this mutual trust, I think it overcomes anything which took 
place before Snape changed sides.  Dumbledore probably knows quite a lot 
about what Snape did while he was a Death Eater.  I believe Snape probably 
knows, and has used, all three Unforgiveable Curses.  The successful use of 
those curses probably does, as many have suggested, either require or 
produce undesirable mental or spiritual characteristics -- which is probably 
why Dumbledore drew the line at allowing Snape to teach DADA.  I think it's 
a two-way street -- Dumbledore trusts Snape, and Snape's knowledge of 
Dumbledore's trust is the strongest reason for his loyalty to Dumbledore.


Janet Anderson

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