Another Curse-Breaker

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 145033

Pat:
> Snape has many talents - although teaching is certainly the most 
> debated :o) - but I haven't seen anyone mentioning this talent in 
> curse-breaking.  We have seen it discussed how Snape helped 
> Dumbledore, off-page, but the references are there in canon.  But 
> this shows that his knowledge in curse-breaking was known not only 
> to Dumbledore, but also by McGonagall: possibly even by all the 
> teaching staff at Hogwarts.  I don't know that I'm all that sure 
> where I'm going with this, but I'm drawn to where this could lead 
in 
> Book 7.  Any further thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Ceridwen:
I think the necklace was taken to him because he's this year's DADA 
teacher.  In CoS, Lockhart is told that his time has come (to shine) 
when Ginny is taken into the Chamber.  He's the DADA teacher, it's 
his job.

Unlike Lockhart, who wasn't as excited about shining as one would 
have thought given his bragging and his excellent hair and teeth, 
Snape knows his subject.  Defending against the Dark Arts would 
include knowing how to break a curse on a Dark object.  I'd think 
that would be advanced knowledge, but a teacher *ought* to know it.

Incidentally, if I'm correct, that means that Lupin would, at least 
in theory, be able to break a curse as well.

Ceridwen.