Why DD might not want Snape for DADA job

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 95223

I (Carol) wrote:
> <snipped> 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.)


Janet Anderson responded:
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,<snip>

> 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.

Carol:
I agree that Snape's loyalty to DD and DD's trust of Snape is a
two-way street. But there's a huge difference between stealing
silverware and other shady dealings and using any of the Unforgiveable
Curses, especially AK, which is used solely to commit murder. If Snape
has used even one of them and Dumbledore "forgives" him ("It's okay,
Sevvie. You've reformed now"), the whole term Unforgiveable is
meaningless.) I don't think Snape would or could have been forgiven so
easily, or even at all, if he had performed one of those Curses. 

Also, the penalty for (successfully) performing even one of the
Unforgiveable Curses is a life sentence to Azkaban. (AFAIK, the only
exception is Karkaroff, who was released after a year or so in Azkaban
for ratting on Rookwood.) IMO, Crouch Sr. would not have accepted
Dumbledore's testimony in Snape's favor as sufficient grounds for
releasing Snape if Snape had performed one or more of the Curses,
especially AK. He sent his own son to prison for Crucioing the
Longbottoms. Why would he have been more generous to Snape?

Carol