Snape as DADA, new Potions teacher? (was Re: It's Libatius)

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 126283


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "mooseming" <josturgess at e...> 
wrote:
> 
> General thoughts following Lupinlore and Alla ...
> 
> The interesting thing to me is how, and why, JKR has deliberately 
> set up the potions conflict, she has gone out of her way to give us 
> a great deal of info on Harry's potion requirements and has made it 
> very hard for him to meet them convincingly.
> 
> We know Harry must take potions to study to be an auror.
> We know Snape only accepts students with an `O' pass.
> 
> Harry has done better than we might have predicted as he and 
Neville 
> both performed well in the practical because Snape wasn't there. 
> Plus Harry had a polyjuice question in his written exam. Plus 
> Umbridge comments on how advanced the class as a whole is. 
> 
> However, to get an `O' must be exceptionally hard and we have no 
> real reason to believe Harry would have gained anything more than 
> an `E'. He finds the written paper difficult and believes after his 
> practical that he should have passed if not very well.
> 
> So why did JKR have Snape set the NEWT acceptance level so high?

Hickengruendler:

Since reading OotP, I was sure, that Harry would take potions. I 
think he'll become an Auror, and if he has to take Potions to become 
an Auror, then he somehow will be able to take the subject. Until I 
read this, I thought that Harry would either take an O in Potions, or 
Snape would drop the standard a bit, either because Hermione is the 
only one who got an O, or because it's war and Dumbledore convinces 
Snape to accept more students, so that they can prepare themselves 
(although of course DADA would be the more important defense subject).

But your last question is really interesting. My first answer would 
be, to show again, how ridiculousy high Snape's standards are. But 
maybe there's more to it.
> She could want Harry to take potions against 
> Snape's wishes (some have suggested McGonagall/DD could ensure 
this) 
> this would provide a believable excuse for Snape to further 
> humiliate Harry and good motivation for Harry to begin to fight 
back 
> by working hard to prove his worth. In terms of Harry growing up it 
> makes sense that with the information from the prophecy plus his 
> experience teaching the DA he will start to apply himself as a 
> student. In potions he could start to work at a subject that isn't 
> his forte.  He could learn that to overcome adversity it is 
> necessary to engage in the unpleasant but it is also empowering to 
> face your enemy on his own ground and, if not win, at least stand 
> proud. Harry could gain confidence whilst the hostility between 
> Snape and him could become more personal and more overt.

Hickengruendler:

And to be honest, I would agree with Snape if that were the case. I 
really think Harry deserves to become an Auror, he already is much 
better in fighting Death Eaters than many grown ups are, but if 
nobody who hasn't got an O gets in Advanced Potions, and only Harry 
does, that would be absolutely unfair. Of course it would make roon 
for some interesting Snape/Harry interaction, but I really hope it's 
not the case.
> 
> But what of Neville? If he is to become a healer, as some believe, 
> then he needs to take potions too. Is Snape going to have to 
> continue to teach him as well? Mind you I wouldn't put it past JKR 
> to have a little joke with both us and Snape and give Neville an 
`O'!

Hickengruendler:

I still think Neville will be the classmate who JKR promised us will 
become a teacher. And I hope it's in DADA, although I think Herbology 
is more likely.
 
> Or JKR could be using the potions dilemma as a distraction when 
> Snape moves to the DADA post. Harry (and the reader) could be 
> forgiven for not dwelling on the why DD changed his mind so much as 
> the benefit to Harry. I imagine the conversation with Ron would go 
> something like this:
> 
> Harry `But why did DD give Snape the DADA position after all this 
> time?'
> Ron `Listen mate don't worry about it. Now we can take potions and 
> become aurors. Its what you want isn't it?'
> Harry `Yeah but Snape teaching DADA its going to be a nightmare!'
> Ron `You're good at DADA, Snape won't be able to pick on you right. 
> Hey, you'll really show him up!'
> 
> Harry was really dreading his first DADA lesson but it turned out 
> Ron was right. Snape started out by asking Harry the most difficult 
> questions imaginable but Harry was able to answer them all. Snape 
> quickly left Harry alone and concentrated on ignoring him 
completely 
> which suited Harry. Snape was a surprisingly  good teacher and 
Harry 
> could hardly believe he would have enjoyed one of his classes so 
> much! He agreed with Ron, whatever DD's reasons for changing his 
> mind it had certainly improved life at Hogwarts for Harry.
> 
> End of discussion
.

Hickengruendler:

There are two reasons why I hope you are wrong.

1.) It would be boring if Harry suddenly got along with Snape in 
class. Sure, we all want to see them working together, but not this 
way. Too easy, IMO.

2.) I adore Snape as a character, and if he becomes DADA teacher in 
book 6, than we might lose him before book 7, and that would be a 
shame. Or might JKR change her pattern and keep the DADA teacher for 
the last two years.

Hickengruendler