Master of This School

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 111680

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "zendemort" <zendemort at y...> 
wrote:
> I found something very intringuing while reading PoA for the second 
> time. It is minute, but interesting nonetheless. 
> 
> When Snape comes across the Marauder's Map, he tells the 
> map "Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, demands that 
> you reveal the secrets you hide" (quote is not exact but along the 
> same lines, although the "master of this school" part is exact). 
But 
> there is a little problem here. You see, Snape is not the master of 
> Hogwarts!!!! DD is the "master of this school"!!!! So why does 
Snape 
> call himself master of the school? I wonder what he is after? Does 
> he wish to become the Headmaster of Hogwarts at one point? 
> hmmm....... 
> This could provide clues into his personality... and his private 
> thoughts (possibly, he considers himself greater than Dumbledore, 
> the true master?)... But can it also tell us anything yet to come?

Finwitch:

Not so sure... Dumbledore is the Headmaster. (and Snape tends to say 
Headmaster when addressing him). Noting that they ALSO have Head Boy 
and Head Girl among loads of boys and girls - well, I think that any 
*adult* working at Hogwarts - including Madams Pince and Hooch, as 
well as Argus Filch - are masters and mistresses of Hogwarts - the 
HEADmaster is their leader. (I think the house-elves call ANY adult 
employ their master/mistress). Got to make some use of the HEAD-
prefix, I think.

Secondly, Snape is also Potions Master - is it referring to skill and 
tested by Potions Guild - or just his teaching job?

But about Snape being ambitious... Ambition is a Slytherin 
charasteric, set so by the Sorting Hat - and Snape was Slytherin as a 
Hogwarts boy, and is Head of Slytherin House. (Another reason to make 
him Master of Hogwarts, hmm?) Of course he IS!

Finwitch