Conspiracies and re-assessments

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 112238

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, chnc1024 at A... wrote:
> Justine:
>  We must remember that Snape's existence includes [snip] a 
pureblood  superiority mindset, and, most  importantly, an obsession 
with the Dark Arts....  
> 
> Magda:
> Well, we don't know that really.  
> Sirius Black said twice (OOTP and GOF) that Snape was into the 
DarkArts but  no one else has....
> 
> Chancie:
snip
  From  this state ment it appears to me that Snapes infactuation 
with the Dark Arts  is a fairly well known fact.  


Potioncat:
Good memory, I remembered it differently, that he was interested in 
DADA,  but here it is.  Percy in SS/PS chpt 7, "He teaches Potions, 
but he doesn't want to--everyone knows he's after Quirrell's job. 
Knows an awful lot about the dark arts, Snape."

After all these years that suddenly struck me as odd. How do the 
students know this?  Does Snape mutter it to his Slytherins?  Have 
parents whispered it within earshot of kids?  Has a teacher let it 
slip? Has it come up in NEWT classes when students study Dark Arts 
to learn how to fight them? (I'm referring to the restricted section 
of the library.)  Is it true?  For someone who is reported to 
dislike teaching Potions, he seems to enjoy potion making and is 
very good at it.

It's very likely that Snape was well versed in Dark Arts.  And it 
seems that's one of the reasons the Marauders didn't like him.  I'm 
not sure that tells us that he's ever used them at school as a 
student or teacher.  Or that he has an obsession with dark arts.

Something about the way we've been told about his desire for DADA, 
and something about the way we were told about his Dark Arts 
reputation as a kid make me think we're being set up. 

Potioncat