Fields of Magic (was Re: Potions Master Question)

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 94039

Carol:
I'm not so sure. As I stated in a different thread, the other
teachers, including the other heads of houses and acting headmistress
McGonagall, who is twice Snape's age, followed Snape's lead in getting
Gilderoy Lockhart out of the staffroom to "put up or shut up," as we
say in the U.S.--either act on his boasts and save Ginny or get out of
Hogwarts. ("Just the man. The very man," ff., CoS Am. ed. 294). Also
McGonagall says something about not being able to look Severus Snape
in the eye for weeks the last time Slytherin won the Quidditch cup. So
it sounds to me as if, despite his age, he's a respected college--in
marked contrast to Gilderoy Lockhart or Dolores Umbridge. And he's one
of only four heads of houses, again despite his age.

Also it's possible that Potioncat and others are thinking of Snape's
position as Dumbledore's righthand man--always present to help him in
a crisis, most notably in the later books, GoF and OoP (where he
contacts DD and works with him even though DD is not at Hogwarts). I'd
call him DD's trusted lieutenant. And "prowling" the halls is part of
Snape's role as the rule enforcer. Somehow, I can't see Flitwick or
Sprout being quite as effective.

Carol, who agrees that Snape is young, talented, ambitious and needs
to mellow down but doesn't think the other teachers look down on him
for these qualities

Neri:
OK, I'm not going to get into an argument with all the Snape's fans 
without any specific canon to back me up. But regarding the status of 
Potions, what do you think are the chances that a man in his early 
twenties, without any previous teaching experience as far as we know, 
would be hired to teach one of the two most prestigious fields in 
Hogwarts? Talented as he may be.

I already know what you are going to answer. Quirrell also seemed to 
be pretty young and he got the DADA position. But the DADA position 
is really not an example for anything. We don't know what's going on 
with it, but whatever it is, it is probably not natural.

Neri