Snape passionate about the dark arts? [was: Snape]

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 89749

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "severelysigune" wrote:

> And there is still the fact that Dumbledore isn't 
> really sympathetic towards practitioners of the Dark Arts, whereas 
> Snape is passionate about them.
>

Siriusly Snapey Susan now:

Sigune, the point I'm addressing isn't your main point, but I still 
think it's worth asking about.  Do we KNOW that Snape is passionate 
about the dark arts?  Isn't one of the things we readers are often 
cautioned about concerning JKR is that we should question statements 
of "fact" made by CHARACTERS?  I know Percy first told Harry that 
Snape wants the DADA post, and other students have said it, too, 
saying something like "everyone knows" that he fancies the position.

But has Snape ever said--or DD or any other teacher--that he truly 
wants the position?  I am just wondering whether "passionate about" 
the dark arts might be going a little too far, for what we know of 
Severus.

Please fire away if I'm way off and there is concrete evidence in 
canon!

Siriusly Snapey Susan