Potions Master Question

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 93847

Viridis wrote:
<snip> Dumble himself must be of the top Potions Masters of WW <snip> 
So why he was teaching transfiguration? He is powerful enough to be 
equally good in both fields. But still... 


Neri:
My impression is that transfiguration is considered the most 
distinguished field of magic, sort of like physics in muggle science. 
Transfiguration seems to have a strong theoretical basis. It requires 
a lot of intelligence and learning, but also a lot of power (James's 
wand, which was especially suited transfiguration, was more powerful 
than Lily's wand, which was more suited to Charms). Transfiguration 
also has obvious utility, but mainly for big and impressive stuff, 
not household chores, and is very dangerous when not applied 
correctly. It is probably not a coincidence that the current 
headmaster deputy in Hogwarts is the transfiguration teacher.

Potions, on the other hand, seems to be less a distinguished field 
than Charms and DADA, not to mention Transfiguration. It is important 
because of its obvious utility, but it doesn't have a strong 
theoretical basis, but seems to have its roots in the humble skill of 
cooking. Snape's opening remarks in the first Potions lesson in SS/PS 
(paraphrasing: "no silly wand waving here") sounds like a typical 
inferiority complex, and Snape himself is only the Potions Master 
because he didn't get the DADA job. Being the Transfiguration Master 
for several years is a probably the best qualification for the 
headmaster position, thought perhaps not an obligatory condition. 
Even if DD was the Potion Master for a time, he'd want the promotion 
to the Transfiguration job.

Neri