HBP CHAPTERS 7-9 POST DH LOOK

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 184364

Alla:
> > > 
> > <snip> 
> > > Funny, Snape indeed does not do demonstration of Unforgivables.
> > 
> > Carol:
> <SNIPPING the long list of reasons why he was not doing the 
demonstration of Unforgivables>
> 
> 
Alla again:
> 
> Yes, those are all good  and plausible reasons. Except I was not 
saying that it was a bad thing, wasn't I?
> 
> I just said that it was funny. I was thinking that this could have
been one of the clues about Snape's loyalties, same as the fact that
Fake!Moody did not hesitate to show them to kids could have been one
of the clues about his real loyalties. I mean, we are not even talking
about using them in the battle, it is in the classroom. 
> 
> So, um, it was a compliment to Snape, which I do not make, well 
almost ever. No defense of him was needed, lol.

Carol:

Thanks, Alla. I know that you weren't saying that it was a bad thing,
and I wasn't defending him, really. I was just trying to answer the
question that you raised, exploring possibilities. I like the idea
that it's a clue to his loyalties, but I'm still not sure what his
reasons were. I agree that Fake!Moody's use of them in the classroom
was a clue to his loyalties, but if he's not lying, the Unforgiveables
are usually shown to the sixth- and seventh-years. (Probably not
demonstrated on them, however!) Fake!Moody claims that he has
permission from Dumbledore (but not the Ministry, most likely) to
demonstrate them to the fourth years (and possibly the fifth years)
because they need to know what they're facing. However, we don't know
for sure whether he's telling the truth or whether he shows them to
non-NEWT students outside Harry's class, which, apparently, receives
the same lesson that he gives the sixth years, judging from the Twins'
(and Lee Jordan's?) reaction.

At any rate, *if* Fake!Moody is telling the truth and the DADA teacher
usually demonstrates the Unforgiveables to the NEWT students, Snape's
not doing so requires some explanation, which I was attempting to
provide (not arguing for any explanation in particular, just
presenting some possibilities). However, if Fake!Moody was lying or
mistaken, no explanation is required. (I personally think that
Fake!Moody used the real Moody's status as an ex-Auror authorized to
cast Unforgiveables to persuade Dumbledore that the students,
especially Harry, needed that lesson, but he really relished the
opportunity to cast the spells and put the students under the Imperius
Curse. He may have hoped to put Harry under his control under cover of
a lesson in Defense against the Dark Arts.) It may be that previous
DADA instructors never cast the spells, even on spiders, because they
were illegal. Quirrell would not have wanted to arouse suspicion (and
he either was or pretended to be afraid of his own subject); Lockhart
was too inept and too self-obsessed to demonstrate spells normally
used by DEs and unrelated to vampires, Banshees, or Yetis; Lupin
abhorred the Dark Arts and, as a werewolf, wouldn't want to call
attention to himself by casting illegal spells; and Umbridge, of
course, wouldn't let the students cast so much as a counter-jinx.

So, my question is, was Snape following standard procedure by teaching
*about* but not demonstrating the Unforgiveables in his NEWT DADA
classroom, or was Fake!Moody telling the truth (that DADA teachers
were authorized to demonstrate the spells to NEWT students despite
their being illegal for anyone but Aurors)? If the first, we don't
need to seek reasons why Snape didn't demonstrate the Unforgiveables.
If the second, we do.

Carol, who is genuinely interested in the question that Alla raised
and would like to know what others think