Inconsistencies in the DADA position

[jlv230]

No: HPFGUIDX 131552

> Rosered wrote: 
> > So these three things do not add up.  Taking quotes one and two 
> > together, it would seem that DD is specifically keeping Snape
> > from the DADA position.  But quotes one and three directly
> > contradict one another.  In addition, if we assume that Snape
> > was telling the truth about applying every year but Hagrid was
> > wrong in quote three, what would make DD think that Lockhart
> > would be a more suitable candidate than Snape?  I know
> > characters will sometimes give misleading information, but
> > something about this really bugs me and I can't put 
> > my finger on what it is.  Any thoughts?
> > 
> Potioncat:
> Hagrid doesn't always know as much as he thinks he does. Or
> certainly isn't correct in what he knows.
> 
> Regularly isn't the same as yearly.
> 
> OTOH, he may have applied yearly until Longbottom arrived. Then
> the potential of taking a trip to the hospital wing in a matchbox
> may have made potions look better.
> 
> My personal, I believe so but can't prove it opinion: He isn't 
> interested in the DADA position. He was misleading Umbridge. If 
> nothing else, maybe he wanted her to think he wanted her job and
> any ill feeling he showed was envy of her job, not loyalty to DD.
> 
> Potioncat

I think Snape /does/ want to be DADA teacher and /does/ apply for 
the DADA position every time it's vacant – this is not disputed in 
any way by JKR in the Royal Albert Hall interview quote most 
relevant to this discussion:

"Jackson: "Professor Snape has always wanted to be Defence Against 
Dark Arts teacher. In book 5 he still hasn't got the job. Why does 
Prof Dumbledore not allow him to be Defence Against The Dark Arts 
teacher?"
"JK Rowling: That is an excellent question and the reason is that I 
have to be careful what I say here. To answer it fully would give a 
lot away about the remaining two books.
"When Prof Dumbledore took Prof Snape onto the staff and Prof Snape 
said "I'd like to be Prof of Defence Against the Dark Arts please" 
and Prof Dumbledore felt it might bring out the worst in Snape so 
said "I think we'll get you to teach Potions and see how you get 
along there"."

The interesting question is *why* Dumbledore thinks that DADA will 
bring out the worst in Snape, and JKR indicated that this is 
something BIG and important to the plot as it would spoil the next 
two books somewhat to reveal it.  Presumably the reason is related 
to Snape's desire to take the post on. The mind boggles.

This reason will presumably explain why Lockhart (or even Umbridge) 
was actually a far better candidate than Snape... I dread to think 
what will happen if Dumbledore does die and the new head of Hogwarts 
lets Snape in.

JLV xx