Why does Snape wants DADA job if it cursed? LONG

[Sydney]

No: HPFGUIDX 148928


> a. and b. are not facts. I agree that there is canon to support it,
but this
> canon is not clear. We get the information about Snape desiring to
become
> DADA from several people - but Snape himself only once ackknowledges
it (in
> OotP). 

Just for reference, here it is:

         You applied first for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post,
I believe?' Professor Umbridge asked Snape.
         Yes,' said Snape quietly.
         'But you were unsuccessful?'
         Snape's lip curled.
         'Obviously'
         Professor Umbridge scribbled on her clipboard.
         'And you have applied regularly for the Defence Against the
Dark Arts post since  you first joined the school, I believe?'
         'Yes,' said Snape quietly, barely moving his lips. He looked
very angry.
         'Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused
to appoint you?' asked Umbridge.
         'I suggest you ask him,' said Snape jerkily.


>But he is talking to Umbridge then, so we can't be sure that he
> speaks the truth - it could easily be a tactical move, particularly
because
> he spoke in front of a class with Slytherins (and Draco).


So I take it you like solution 1, from 148809:

>-- Snape DOESN'T want the DADA job;  his yearly applications are just
>a front to give Dumbledore a chance to make a public display of not
>trusting Snape.  

Well, that IS the one requiring the least explanation.  Although, not
that it affects this theory, Snape must at least have been making a
fake formal application and Dumbledore a fake formal refusal, seeing
as Umbrige has a paper trail.  Anyways, from the initial post:

>Pros:  Snape seemed to think this was a line worth
>pitching Bella.  Cons:  Bella was, like, that's a stupid reason to
>think you're still evil.  Which it is-- it's just too lame, IMO, to
>be a cover story.  Also, no payoff.  Why does JKR keep bringing it up
>every single book?

Snape:  "He wouldn't give me the Defense Against the Dark Arts job,
you know.  Seemed to think it might, ah, bring about a relapse...
tempt me into my old ways"

"This was your sacrifice to the Dark Lord, not to teach your favorite
subject?"she jeered.



This might well be the long and the short of it-- it's a cover story.
 But my inital objections still stand.  It's a very lame cover story.
What does it really gain Snape with the Slytherins or with Voldemort?
Why is that a better cover story than that he's just plain teaching
Potions?  Why would they make a cover story out of D-dore NOT
completely trusting Snape?  When a couple of pages later Snape is
bragging that D-dore never stopped trusting him?

Also, it seems like a pretty trite point for JKR to keep hitting so
many times.  And, like any theory requiring someone to be acting upset
rather than being genuinely upset, I don't liiiike it.  Snape looks
"very angry" in that scene, and speaks downright 'jerkily' (n.b. Tom
Swiftie fans.. lots of material in HP... ).  You could take the option
that he's just acting, but, I mean, that's a little boring, isn't it? <g>


> I agree that Snape is not that stupid to think that he could lift
this DADA
> curse, or that his desire for this job is so much stronger than his
> intellect. But your solution - Suicide!Snape - is not supported by any
> single bit of canon, it is just a possible solution for the mystery
of Snape
> taking the DADA job

But it's such a FUN solution, no?

Sydney