Theory on James and Lilly Potters occupations

[nihil8750o]

No: HPFGUIDX 107806

Firstly, I would like to say thank you for everyone's response to
this theory that 
I have presented. Many of you have given  thought provoking ideas and 
insight on this theory of mine. 

To answer some questions that have been posted on this theory I will
do my 
best because I must admit there are some holes (But a theory without
holes is 
actually a fact).

On the subject of why has no one mentioned it to Harry if one of his
parents 
was the original DADA teacher; I have an answer (granted it might
presume 
too much). 

In my original post I present the idea that perhaps Harry might be
destined to 
be the future DADA teacher.  Now it stands to reason that Dumbledore
might 
want Harry to choose this out his own free will not out of some
desire to have 
a connection with his deceased parents.
Therefore he would keep it secret until Harry chooses such a career
path on 
his own ( I believe Harry leading the DA is step in that direction. I
mean Harry 
found himself thinking of lessons for each weeks DA meeting.).

This of course is just a presumption on my part; it honestly could be 
something as simple as JKR doesn't want us to know right now so
she just 
withholds it.

Now on to another matter.  As I openly presumed most if not all  of
you believe 
if this theory is to be true it would be James in DADA position and
not Lilly.  I, if 
I were to be honest, thought that originally as well.  I mean, come
on, it adds 
soooo much to the Snape and James dynamic.  

However, the more I thought about it the more I began to think it
would be too 
obvious (We all know JKR likes to make us think we should zig when we 
should zag).     
Honestly,  does the Snape/ James relationship need anymore to be 
validated? Furthermore, would it also make sense for Snape to not
only hold 
ill will towards Harry for his father but his mother as well.  

How embarrassing would it be for a pure blood to be denied a job
formerly 
held by a mud blood?  Parallels can be drawn from this theorized
history to 
the current Hogwarts dynamic between Hermione and Malfroy.  Draco
does 
not hate Hermione because she is a mud blood but because she is a mud 
blood who is superior in talent to him, a pure blood.

But, who knows Harry might just be following in his fathers footsteps.

I, of course, might just be assuming too much.  Although, I do firmly
believe 
Lilly is due to have a significant revelation soon (based solely on
the fact that 
James has dominated the parental revelations to date).

As to the question Why were the Potters in Godrics Hollow and not
Hogwarts 
when they were killed. I believe Snow said it best: 

>"Hogwarts may have been a safe haven but James may not have
wanted to
>put the school or its head master in jeopardy so he left the teaching
>profession to go into hiding. This could be the simple answer as to
>why James turned down Dumbledore's offer to be their secret
keeper."

This also might be why Hagrid mentioned that Hogwarts was the safest
place 
on earth.  Meaning he did not agree with the decision for James and
Lilly to 
leave the school.

A decision on the part of James and Lilly to leave the school that
could have 
come about because of Dumbledores belief that Tom Riddle was the Heir
of 
Slytheryn.  This could have given Voldermort an uncanny knowledge and 
ability to enter the school through secret means (i.e. the Chamber of
Secrets) 
and cause devastation within the school to reach his objective (one
must also 
remember Voldemort was stronger at this time and would most likely
take any 
risks necessary to achieve his goal of destroying the one who could
defeat 
him.). 

Again this is just speculation.

Potioncat's addition to my theory that possibly both  of the
Potters were 
working at the school is quite intriguing:

>"So, having one or both of them working at Hogwarts would make
>sense. Particularly given how fondly both McGonagall and Hagrid
>speak of James and Lily. (Not Potter and Evans.)
>
>Very easily, two teaching positions could have opened on 31 Oct.
>DADA and Potions. So, wouldn't it be interesting if Snape is
>frustrated at Harry because Lily was such a good potion
maker,..."

I must say I like this possibility; but, it is also quite possible
that the Potions 
position came open due to another member of the Order of the Phoenix
that 
filled that spot dying.  They were dropping like flies at the time.

Potioncat
also brought up the excellent point that counters my theory on James
being 
an Auror:

>"Well, I'd vote against auror. I could be wrong (thought it's
never
>happened before) but I don't think there was time for auror training
>and becoming an auror for James to have been more than a novice."

This is an excellent point considering it takes an additional 3 years
of training 
to become an Auror.  This would mean that James had only held the
title for a 
little under a year or possibly still training ( this would depend
solely on when 
the Department begins it's recruitment).  But at the time one
must remember 
that the wizarding world was at war training for anything in the time
of war is 
greatly condensed. Possibly even if the department suffers enough
casualties 
training could take place in the field.

This of course is argument for the sake of argument.  For the is not
enough 
information to validate any of it.  

I still however,  hold to my theory based on the reaction of Kingsley 
Shacklebolt when first meeting Harry.  I might be grasping at straws
but I do 
think there is significance there.

Charme 
has also made several valid extensions to the over all theory:

>"As for Lily, I'm thinking the DoM - an Unspeakable. She would
have had the
>ability to research and find the type of counter curse she used."

This position would have it's benefits as far as giving Lilly the
ability to 
research such unknown areas of magic. But, when looked upon in the
overall 
flow of the story I believe JKR has been giving us clues from the
very 
beginning and to place Lilly in a occupation that has only recently
been 
mentioned (OoP) disrupts JKR's pattern of subtle hints.

Again arguing just to argue. 

Finally, here is another piece of cannon that might support the
possibility of 
one of Harry's parents being the former DADA teacher.

" What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?"
"D-Defence Against the D-D-Dark Arts," muttered Professor
Quirrell,..." N-not 
that you n-need it, eh, P-P-Potter?"(SS, p.70)

Now this of course could be an innocent comment referring to
Harry's escape 
from Lord Voldemort.  But could it not just as easily be a duel
reference to not 
only Harry's escape but his parents and their former position. 

Do people not assumed that whatever the parents are good at the
children 
will be good at as well?

Also the significance that DADA is the first Teaching position and
subject that 
Harry learns of
in the wizarding world.

Anyhow, no more conjecture.
  
Thank you for your time and consideration.
I look forward to more questions, comments, statements, ideas,
threats, and 
whatever.

nihil