CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 18: Dobby's reward

[Joey Smiley]

No: HPFGUIDX 189284

> Joey wrote:
> I presume DD's schedule and chores as a headmaster forced him to delegate the job to a teacher while he retained his accountability (for we learn that he had discussions with Fake!Moody about the curriculum). I think his fear of Snape going back to his old ways outweighed his disappointment in Lockhart due to which he chose Lockhart.
 
> Carol wrote:
[snip]
If Draco hadn't been ordered to kill DD *and* DD hadn't doomed himself by putting on the ring Horcrux (from which Snape could only temporarily save him), I think DD would have continued to put off giving him the position, knowing that the jinx would, at the very least, reveal him as a (supposedly) loyal DE.

[snip]
>(The idea that Snape would return to Voldemort after Voldemort had killed Lily probably never crossed his mind, especially after all the risks that Snape had taken and all the services that he had performed even as early as CoS.)

potioncat wrote:
>I agree. Don't we get a view of DD saying something like "DADA might bring out the worst in you." or something to that effect? (Can't remember which book.) Bringing out the worst seemed to indicate that Snape might be tempted into Dark Arts, but I think it simply refers to the curse itself, which causes a damaging secret to be revealed.

Joey:

I think the jinx only ensured that the DADA teacher ceases to be a DADA teacher anymore. I agree that damaging secrets (damaging to the teacher, I mean :-)) were revealed in the case of Quirrel, Lockhart, Lupin and Fake!Moody. However, what damaging secret was revealed in the case of Umbridge? Everyone knew what she was already, didn't they? 

I think DD knew the value of Snape (as he says himself) but he never trusted him (or anybody) *in full*. He trusted Snape with the secret regarding Harry only during HBP days and that too only after Snape demanded to know the truth (as per what we learn from TPT chapter in DH). He still refrained from telling Snape about Horcruxes! 

Snape did get to teach DADA in HBP even while DD was headmaster. If DD was so worried about the jinx or about any secret related to Snape being revealed, he wouldn't have risked giving the DADA teacher job to Snape at all. DD had a tougher challenge in HBP - it wasn't an ex-DE Snape vs a pathetic Lockhart anymore - he badly wanted the memory from Slughorn now. I think this time DD's desperation to get the memory outwieghed his suspicions about Snape going back to his old ways. 

DD never became minister of magic as he thought he was not to be trusted with power and this despite the terrible remorse that filled his being. He gave second chances, yes, but he never had *100 percent* trust, I think. JMHO. :-)

> Carol wrote:
> As for disappointment in Lockhart, DD probably knew from the start that he was a fraud, but hiring an inept teacher was the price he had to pay for retaining Snape. 

Joey:

Agreed. That's what I meant too.

Cheers,
~Joey :-)