Snape's Teaching Career - Dumbledore's idea of adult detention?

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 125353



> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Magda Grantwich 
> <mgrantwich at y...> wrote:
> > I just had a rather whimsical thought concerning another reason 
> Snape is at Hogwarts: it's Dumbledore's idea of an adult-
appropriate 
> detention for Snape's foolishness in believing in pureblood 
> superiority when he was younger.  As Catlady points out, it would 
> indeed be impossible not to have his perceptions altered by such an 
> experience.
> > 
> 
> Tonks here:
> And on a more serious note. This *punishment* would help him see 
the 
> effect of his DE past on the orphans that are left behind. Might be 
> one of the other reasons that Snape is not pleased to have Harry 
and 
> Neville in his class. Neville is not an orphan as such, but almost 
> the same. Snape would be faced everyday with the consequences of 
his 
> past mistakes. And he doesn't get the DADA job because he would 
> enjoy that class. This thought puts a whole new light on Snape 
> doesn't it?
> 

Marianne:

I like it.  But I'd like to add a thought to the DADA idea.  Snape 
hasn't figured out that he will never get out of adult detention, and 
be awarded with the DADA position until he shows by his behavior or 
attitude that he has some understanding of how Voldy and the DEs have 
hurt these kids from infancy. And, if he can't or won't, DD will keep 
turning down that request to take over DADA.

On a somewhat less silly note, I've often thought that part of what 
makes Snape so disagreeable and snarky to many of his students is 
that his sense of honor has never been fulfilled.  He knows his 
actions as a DE were wrong, but he managed to avoid punishment when 
called to account. Instead of ending up in Azkaban, like many of his 
comrades, he got rewarded with a cushy position at a highly regarded 
school of wizardry.  He's been forgiven, by Dumbledore, at least.  I 
sometimes wonder if he still feels deep down that he has not atoned 
for his sins, whatever they may be. And that he hasn't had an 
opportunity to do so that he feels is equal to his past 
transgressions. And, being Snape, these thwarted feelings 
unfortunately come out in snappish behavior.

Marianne