Master of this school - Number 3 /

[kmcbears1]

No: HPFGUIDX 111829

> Karen wrote
> > Just a comment on this topic -  
> > 
> > Could Master of this school be a title for the number 3 person in 
> > charge?
> > 
> Potioncat:
> Well, I think Snape is too young for that, even though it does seem 
> that we see a lot of him and very little of Sprout or Flitwick.  It 
> may be due to his role in the Order.
> 
> In fact, McGonagall is pretty young too, at least to become 
> Headmistress.  DD must have been around 120 or 130 when he became 
> Headmaster and she is just in her 70s.

- From Karen: --
But the difference in ages are what makes Snape being the number 3 in 
the authority pecking order appealling to me.

Harry notices many times that DD (I am picking age 150 at the time of 
OotP - nice round number) looks tired, old, weary (pick an 
adjective).  In the WW, people come of age at 17.  That means DD has 
been either teaching (since he was 100 or younger - CoS), serving as 
headmaster (for 28 years - age 122 or younger), working with Flamel, 
defeating Dark Wizards.  DD has been actively working for 133 years, 
I'd be ready for retirement by then if not before.

I think DD took the job of Headmaster in order to protect Hogwarts 
from the latest in a series of dark wizards - Voldemort.  After all 
Voldy was just beginning his reign of terror at the time DD took the 
Headmaster job (PS/SS & POA).  

I think it makes perfect sense that there is a 35 year difference in 
the ages between McGonagall and Snape.  There could have been someone 
between DD and McGonagall who would have been about 105-110 but is no 
longer around because he/she taught DADA and was killed, disabled, 
disgraced, or disappeared due to the curse on the job. 

The second reason I feel that Snape is the number 3 person at 
Hogwarts is the lack of "middle age" wizards.  There has been a lot 
of discussion on this list about this lack.  IMO the reason for this 
is because war against dark wizards end up killing a generation or 
two of wizards.  DD is famous for his defeat Grindelwald in 1945 
(PS/SS).  Voldy was killing whole families (GoF - Arthur Weasly 
explaining the terror of the Dark Mark).  Harry is the last Potter, 
Siruis was the last Black.  The wars with the dark wizards have taken 
its toll on the WW and the younger generation (Snape, Percy, Fred & 
George) must be ready to advance and take charge.  

I still think that Master was a title of authority and not just 
another name for teacher or professor.  After all wouldn't Lockhart 
have used the term Master if it was available to him?  Much more 
impressive than just Professor.

- Karen