CHAPDISC HBP 15, The Unbreakable Vow

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 152138

Carol: 
> So what does this situation tell us about Snape? We know that he
didn't want anyone except the very best students in his Potions class,
but DADA seems to be different. In the first place, he doesn't take
only O students. If he did, his NEWT DADA class would probably be
limited to Harry. *(snip)*
And he's even, apparently, willing to make special arrangements for
students who failed their DADA OWL, which he certainly would not have
done for students who failed Potions.

Ceridwen:
The first thing I thought when I read your post is, Snape didn't 
teach DADA until this year.  He begins Harry's class by discussing 
the five previous teachers and their different methods.  Then he says 
he's surprised any of them made it to the higher-level class and 
doubts if they'll be able to keep up with the work.  So, I think that 
if he had been teaching DADA all along, if that wasn't impossible 
that is, he would probably have only taken the highest scorers as he 
does with Potions.  I could be wrong, the subject itself might be 
less attractive to students so he might open it up a little wider.

He may have given remedial lessons to students who had trouble with 
Potions.  When Draco heard that excuse in OotP, he didn't ridicule 
the idea of Snape giving remedial lessons, if I recall correctly, he 
ridiculed Harry for having to take them.

I believe that Snape sees DADA as important.  It could be as simple 
as every teacher believing their own subject is the most important as 
Slughorn said to Trelawney.  Or it could be his awareness, based on 
his inside knowledge of LV's feelings and his DEs, that the lessons 
in DADA will indeed be necessary.

Giving Crabbe and Goyle remedial lessons may also help if or when 
Draco decides he doesn't want to throw in with LV.  C&G are 
Draco's 'goons', they're his protection.  They will need to know how 
to counter Dark magic if LV sends DEs after Draco.  And with Draco's 
attitude, he'll need their help.  It doesn't sound as if he's too 
serious about the subject himself.

Ceridwen.