Snape/DADA and why 6th year

[krista7]

No: HPFGUIDX 148908


Here's my thoughts about Snape/DADA and "why now?" 
question.

Let's say you are Dumbledore, about 17 years ago.
You know, thanks to Trelawney, that Voldie's
undoer is about to be born. You realize that
into your hands is about to come a major
weapon against Evil, and you've got to prep
the child for the Ultimate Battle.

Now, consider you have at hand a *genius*
in the Dark Arts. One who is just busting to teach 
the subject. Obviously, you want to use
him to teach the child. But you suspect there's
something wonky with the DADA job--do you 
want to use Snape's DADA expertise now,
or later in the child's life? 

For all kinds of reasons, to me, the child
would benefit the most from learning at the
hand of a genius in this topic only when 
he's nearly a complete adult. (It IS a 
nasty subject.) You could use Snape in
the kid's founding years, but do you 
really want to waste Snape on basics of 
DADA (if the curse should take him out in a year)?
Plus, you know Snape's not one for warm
and fuzzy, and there's more than a bit of
resentment between him and the child; it's
probably better to give them time to mature,
so the kid at least understands he *has* to learn 
this subject, regardless of Snape's social issues,
and can profit from Snape's teaching.
(Likewise his peers, who will also witness
the Battle to Come.) 

So that gets us to when Harry's 15-18, let's say,
to profit most from Snape's teaching. And wouldn't
you want to put that experience off as long as you can,
believing the closer we are to the Final Confrontation
that Harry will be able to take on more significant
leaps in knowledge? (Plus, it's probably good
for the school to keep Snape around as long as possible;
he appears to be physically the strongest staff member,
in terms of a battle. And don't discount Snape's ability
to keep an eye on Harry et al.)

Okay, so why *this* year and not Harry's last year? 
Dumbledore knows the confrontation will be soon, and
that the kids in Harry's group (including Harry) have
stalled in their DADA growth, thanks to Umbridge. 
(Okay, some kids moved forward, thanks to independent
learning, but Harry didn't really profit like he could
have with a real teacher.) And if Snape manages to buck
the curse, he could always return to the job for another
year.

That's my initial thought on why, in 6th year, Snape
gets the job. I might have my timeline a bit off 
(away on research, without my books, sob!), but
I think it matches up in general.

Krista