Facilis descensus Averni---Snape's little problems

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 140446

Lealess wrote: 
> I can see the attraction of this argument, as it echoes what Rowling
> said herself, that the DADA position would bring out the worst in
> Snape (although I think she was being tongue-in-cheek). 

Potioncat:
It's a joke! I get it now. I'm not sure if this is what you intended, 
Lealess, but I get the joke now. The jinx causes the some weakness of 
the DADA professor to "turn" on him/her. Carol said it so well in the 
post which is so often quoted.  (btw, does anyone know the post 
number of Carol's DADA jinx essay?)

JKR's comment was that DD didn't give Snape the post because it would 
bring out the worst in him. And we've taken it to mean that Snape 
wouldn't be able to handle being so close to the study of Dark 
Arts...but what JKR was saying in her sly way was DADA brings out the 
worst in everyone!

>Lealess 
Unfortunately, we saw little of Snape teaching DADA,
> so we don't know what effect teaching the class had on him.  He 
didn't
> seem overly preoccupied with Dark Arts when we did see him, 
however. 
> He had more pressing things on his mind.

Potioncat:
I think the weakness that was brought out in Snape was the balance of 
loyalties; or possibly his arrogance (you know, that trait he so 
hates to see in Harry?)

One thing that we frequently see with Snape is that he has the cure 
at hand in almost every situation. Although he threatened to poison 
Neville's toad, he had the antidote in his pocket. When Harry tossed 
firecrackers in Draco's cauldron and many students were splashed with 
the potion, Snape had the antidote at his desk. In each case when 
Dark Arts injured someone, he was the one with the treatment.

I know, it could be said this is a requirement of any teacher. But my 
point is, particularly in the DADA position, that Snape is as well 
versed in the "Defense of" as he is in the "Dark Arts". He seems as 
intrested in the light as in the dark. I'm reminded of Madam 
Pomfrey's comment about Lupin in PoA: at last we have a Dark Arts 
teacher who knows his remedies!

I don't think Snape was given DADA because DD needed to bring 
Slughorn back. I think the time was right for Snape to be placed in 
DADA and as DD also had need of Slughorn, he recruited him. Ironic 
isn't it, Slughorn's retirement made room for Snape and Snape's 
transfer made room for Slughorn.