the DADA jinx

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 138081

I would like to start by complimenting Carol on her excellent post about the
possible ways the DADA jinx has affected events.  I have been thinking about
this, trying to figure out how to respond, because the whole subject got my
brain spinning with possibilities.

I'd also like to thank Valky for her comments.  The discussion between her
and Carol helped me to clarify some things.

Was it Valky who suggested the jinx acts on some dark agent in the life of
the particular teacher?  Well, it is actually both carol and Valky on that I
think.  However, I am wondering if it actually acts on a character flaw in
the teacher, leading that person to unwittingly do Voldemort's will and not
do his will.  As Valky said, Voldemort is again causing his own downfall by
his own jinx.  So, here are my thoughts.

Quirrel.
We are told that Quirrel was smart and curious.  Was his curiosity the agent
that the jinx used against him?  His curiosity led him to go do real
world--real wizard world--research, eventually leading him to Voldemort who
then possessed him and eventually caused his death.

Lockhart
Ego!  Lockhart's ego, his image was his downfall.  His ego couldn't let it
out that he was a fraud, so by grabbing Ron's wand and trying to obliviate
the boys, he brought on his own destruction.

Lupin
Ah, Lupin.  I am not convinced that he is ESE, but this thought about the
jinx could explain what happened to him.  Not the map or the feud, but his
weakness of personality.  His desire to be liked that kept him from telling
Dumbledore that Sirius was an animagus.  His desire to be liked kept him
quiet all year.  I realize this doesn't exactly fit the climax of him
forgetting his potion and rushing off to the shack.  But stick with me here,
ok?  If he had been stronger, and if he had told Dumbledore at the beginning
of Sirius' animagus ability, is it possible that Dumbledore could have
caught Sirius, heard the whole story of Peter and then captured Peter?
There would have been no rushing off of Lupin or Snape to confront anyone in
the shack.  It could have been handled quietly and smoothly during the
school year.  Dumbledore would certainly have listened to Sirius and asked
Ron to bring scabbers to him.  Peter could have been revealed, sent to
Azkaban and therefore be unable to go to Voldemort.  But Lupin's weakness,
his fear of 'fessing up, led to the events we have in POA.

Crouch
I'm not very detailed on this one either, but his desire to prove himself
the dark lord's most faithful supporter could have been the thing that led
to his downfall.  After all, in a very direct way, it did.

Umbridge
Arrogance maybe?  Perhaps ambition?  I'm having a little trouble finding the
exact description.  She is to me one of the most truly evil characters in
the books, but I can't just say her innate evil.  However, she is arrogant.
She believes he is above everyone else.  She believes she must squash lesser
beings and has a completely arrogant attitude toward the centaurs for
instance.  Ambition could also play a part, ambition to an extreme degree.
Her ambition to rise in the ministry, to protect the ministry, caused her to
send dementors to attack a teenage boy.  Her ambition for the ministry
causes her to implement the educational decrees, stamp out any opposition or
negative comments at the school.  She even becomes head mistress. But her
desperate ambition causes her to go so far, that she brings the entire
school against her, the DA is created, she tries to use truth serum on
Harry, tries to crucio him and falls for a hastily contrived lie by
Hermione, which ends up taking her to the confrontation with the centaurs.
I'm still not happy with the idea of the character flaw being her arrogance
or ambition, so anyone feel free to jump in and suggest something better.

And now, Snape.
I think this can work, no matter which side he is on, or even if he's not on
any side but his own.  Perhaps a desire to prove himself?  I think Snape
actually has some self-confidence issues; otherwise, he wouldn't feel it
necessary to demean his students or even to continue his grudge against
James through Harry.  He must feel insecure in himself.  That kind of
insecurity can make people do some truly horrible things.  For Snape, it
could have been that being one of the death eaters made him feel important,
in the ways Crabbe and Goyle feel important by hanging out with Draco.  No,
I'm not implying Snape is like then, for he is far more intelligent and
clever than we are led to believe they are.  But if his insecurity leads him
to Voldemort, it could have been that he thought Voldemort could give him
something, power prestige, make him bigger than those old tormenters from
school.  The unbreakable vow, which I do believe is the way the DADA jinx
seals Snape's doom, could have been a way for him to make himself feel and
seem more important than he believes he is.  You know, make him look loyal
to Bella, but also a way to be on the inside, part of the in-crowd.  Even
saying that he thinks Voldemort probably expects him to do whatever it is
Draco is supposed to do in the end, could be the words of an insecure
person.  Hmmm, am I making any sense?  I know what I'm trying to say, but I
don't think it's coming out very well.

If Snape is good, then the insecurity can still be a factor. I don't believe
he and Dumbledore planned for him to take the vow in advance, even if he is
good.  That would mean that they somehow knew he would be asked to do it.
However, if he felt he wasn't doing enough, needed somehow to know more, to
get in deeper, the insecurity could have made him take the chance, even
though he didn't know what the vow would be.  I know Snape may seem to come
off as being full of pride and confidence, but I've never seen him as such.
I've seen him as a person who is not comfortable with his own success and
talent and who has to continue to try to find more ways to bolster himself
to himself.  Whether he is evil or good or only out for Snape's best
interest in true Slytherin style, his insecurity can drive him to do things
that will actually work against him.  The vow became his downfall.  He is
not dead, but he is most certainly disgraced.  If he was Dumbledore's man al
along, he is now in an untenable position, because the good guys will never
believe it.  If he is evil, he has still perhaps interfered with Voldemort's
plans by saving Draco.  He also is o longer in a position to spy on the
order.  If he's only out for himself, he is now in a terribly dangerous
position, because each side could suspect him.  But definitely, he is out of
Hogwarts in a dramatic and agonizing way.  His insecurity led to his
downfall.



As for how to break the jinx, i like carol's idea that perhaps Snape and
Lupin may have to work together to do that in the end.  If Snape is good, it
would be wonderful poetic justice, if those two old enemies must come
together to break the threads that have twisted all their lives.  I don't
see how that can happen, but Lupin could be the one Snape could go to to
plead his case.  I doubt Lupin would shoot him on sight.  He didn't even do
that to peter in the shack.  Lupin could reach Harry as well.  It could be a
very interesting way to resolve it.  Even if Snape is evil, murdered
Dumbledore for his own or Voldemort's reasons, if he is to be redeemed, this
could begin with Lupin.  Perhaps that will be the key to breaking the jinx
once and for all.

Ok, is it full of holes?  Maybe.  And I may not have the exact ideas of the
personality flaws really fleshed out yet, but I do believe the flaws are
keys to the downfall of each DADA teacher.  By the way, do they coincide
with the seven deadly sins, or any other seven somethings?

Sherry
Who thanks Carol for taking the time to follow up in an interesting off list
discussion and for giving me so much new stuff to think about.  Even for
making me begin to ponder many imponderables about Snape. ... Again!