The DADA jinx and its victims (Was:The best reason for Dumbledore to trust

[redwooddawn]

No: HPFGUIDX 138678

Carol wrote <snip>
On a side note, I would like to see Snape and Lupin form a common
cause against Voldemort, understanding that through the curse, he has
used their own weaknesses against them, with terrible consequences for
them both. 


Dawn:
I think your post does an excellent job of demonstrating that the 
DADA curse uses the vulnerabilities of whoever is in the DADA 
position, to reveal their true nature, and use that nature to destroy 
them (whether physically or spiritually).  And, I think having that 
type of curse is a perfect reflection of the HBP theme – that by 
succumbing to his own vulnerabilities, Voldemort has sealed his own 
fate.  DD has made it clear throughout HBP that Voldemort's 
vulnerability was in believing the prophesy, and so he validated the 
prophesy by inadvertently empowering Harry to be the Chosen One. 
Here's a brief summary of DADA teacher nature's and
downfalls: (feel 
free to revise my word or quality choices, as I'm doing this
quickly)

Quirrell: subservience and intelligence/ possession and death
Lockhart: ruthless egocentrism and ambition/ loss of fame and 
identity 
Lupin: caring werewolf/ social outcast and poverty,
"weariness"
Mad Eye: vigilant paranoia (justified)/ kidnapped and impersonated
Umbridge: loathsome hag, politically ambitious/ terrorized by those 
she demeaned and persecuted (she got off too easy, IMO)
Snape: indecipherable spy/ forced to get off the fence and take an 
unforgivable action

The revealing of one's true nature seems key to this curse (as
well 
as the series), and it occurs to me now that DD has had many years to 
observe what this curse does to a person, and how it plays out.  I 
suspect he finally allowed Snape to fill the position because he 
needed to know Snape's true nature.  DD has protected, tolerated
and 
included Snape over the years for very good reasons I'm sure, but 
increasingly since Harry arrived to Hogwarts and Voldy resurrected, 
serious doubts have been cast against Snape's character.  After
DD's 
great error in judgment that he admitted to in OotP in not sharing 
more information with Harry sooner in Harry's life, it's safe
to say 
DD has been inclined to question his other stances, if only 
internally.  DD is a benevolent being, but he's not all candy and 
sunshine – he's a master manipulator when the situation
requires it, 
(recruiting Slughorn, his vague allusions to obtaining memories.) 
Free choice is one of the highest virtues in DD's character, and 
while he may have been subtly manipulating Snape towards atonement 
over the years (by keeping him from the DA temptation), there comes a 
time when one's choices must speak for themselves, when one must
go 
it alone.  We know that's now true for Harry, and he's proved
himself 
ready to DD, but the other soul in question is Snape.  After reading 
all of your discussions, I'm inclined to believe there was an 
agreement between DD and Snape (regarding the murder) but it may have 
only been reached after a year of Snape being under the scrutiny of 
the DADA curse.

First time out for me,
Dawn