Dark Mirror Part 2: Who's Your DADA?

[Talisman]

Chained to the wall in Azkaban, Talisman turns a nervous eye to the 
dwindling hourglass.  

Suddenly, a harassed-looking (HPfGU) elf runs in and gives it a 
shake, sending half the remaining contents to the bottom.

Egad!

*Hey.  Hey, Lucius, snap out of it.  Could you hold this napkin still 
for me--with your free foot there?  Thanks.*

Talisman dips her preternaturally long toenail in a puddle of 
unidentified dark liquid, and begins to scribble.

*What's that?  Yes dear, you look magnificent in leather.  Now, 
shhhhh.  I have to get this out.*

In part one, I revealed how Harry follows a pattern of emulating the 
deepest secrets of the initial DADA professors in the pattern: 1/5, 
2/6, 3/7.  

The scrying mirror has long since spoken, and it's time for me to 
answer the question for Dark Mirror Part II: Who's Your DADA?

Here the mirror reveals the pattern's effect on the DADA professors, 
themselves.  Once again, the pattern folds around the center, causing 
those in the *jinxed seat* to reflect each other, this time 
correlating the books thusly: 3/5, 2/6, 1/7. 

First up for consideration is the 3/5 combination of Lupin and 
Umbridge.  

This is the matter of the Humane Beast, and the Beastly Human.

List the salient qualities of one, and you will find the  
complimentary quality in the other.

Lupine looks entirely human, but harbors a potential wild beast 
within.

Umbridge looks like a toad, but is, contrary to much speculation, 
entirely human.

The werewolf is, obviously, affiliated with the wolf, feral 
primogenitor of all canines.

Via her office décor, Umbridge is identified with cloyingly sweet 
kittens, a most domesticated iteration of the feline family (OoP 
Chpt. 28, p 628, et seq.)

Lupin's attire is patched and shabby.  Umbridge is priggishly neat.

Lupin was an animal-loving, hands-on professor who commences his 
first lesson with: "Would you please put all your books back in your 
bags.  Today's will be a practical lesson. You will need only your 
wands" (PoA 130).

Umbridge, as we know, was all "Wands away and quills out"(OoP239);  
whereafter she proceeds to tell an indignant class that  "as long as 
you have studied theory hard enough" there is no need for practical 
applications  (OoP 244).  Indeed, her absolute refusal to give hands-
on experience leads to the establishment of  the D.A.

As a werewolf, Lupin is considered a *half-breed* (OoP 243).  He is 
an outcast, suffering the prejudice of the greater wizarding 
community.  We are specifically made to understand how difficult it 
has been for him to find employment.  "I have been shunned all my 
life, unable to find paid work because of what I am" (PoA 356).

Umbridge is the exact other half of the equation:

"Does Lupin know her?" asked Harry quickly, remembering Umbridge's 
comments about dangerous half-breeds during her first lesson. 

"No," said Sirius, "but she drafted a bit of anti-werewolf 
legislation two years ago that makes it almost impossible for him to 
get a job" (OoP 302).

And yes, now we must face what will be, for some, a bitter pill.

Whereas werewolves are supposed to be "murderous beast[s]" (FBAWTFT 
42), during the year of his professorship, through and including the 
episode of his revelation, Lupin was a totally, consummately, 
impeccably safe werewolf.

On the other hand, at the moment of Umbridge's complete revelation we 
learn that she is a worse-than-murderous human being, having sweetly 
arranged to have young Harry's soul sucked during his summer vacation 
(OoP 747).

Now, now, don't fuss about Ever-So-Tame!Lupin.  The evidence--which 
is laid on with a trowel and absolutely bulwarked by the patterning--
has been before us all along.  We can dredge all that up again at our 
leisure, long after Book 7 has settled into history.  The focus of 
the moment is predictive, not remedial.

So, we'll return to noticing how Snape's  repeated, voluntary 
preparation of the complex potion for Lupin's benefit is reversed in 
his non-cooperation with Umbridge: giving her pseudo-Veritaserum--and 
later claiming to have made no more--though evidence suggests that he 
keeps the real stuff, in stock.

As a werewolf, Lupin is also considered a *half-breed;* Umbridge, of 
course, is a notorious half-breed hater.

"Does Lupin know her?" asked Harry quickly, remembering Umbridge's 
comments about dangerous half-breeds during her first lesson.

"No," said Sirius, "but she drafted a bit of anti-werewolf 
legislation two years ago that makes it almost impossible for him to 
get a job."

Harry remembered how much shabbier Lupin looked these days and his 
dislike of Umbridge deepened even further.

"What's she got against werewolves?" Said Hermione angrily.  

"Scared of them, I expect," said Sirius, smiling at her indignation.

"Apparently she loathes part-humans; she campaigned to have 
merepeople rounded up and tagged last year, too.


"So, what are Umbridge's lessons like?" Sirius interrupted.  "Is she 
training you all to kill half-breeds?"
(OoP Chpt. 14, p. 302-303)

For Lupin, the Forbidden Forest is a refuge, while for Umbridge it is 
the most dangerous place, of all.

Half-breed Lupin reports that he didn't attack anything in the 
forest, the night of the Shrieking Shack episode; whereas on the 
critical night in Book 5,Umbridge is attacked by an entire herd of 
half-breeds.

It's petty clear, that Umbridge is Lupin's opposite, reversing him in 
both his salient characteristics, and his revealed secret.

It is important to note, however, that in regard to the central 
secret and primary characteristic of each professor, the two images 
are not only reversals, they are reversals that complete each other 
in such a way as to form the two halves of a whole.

 Persecuted werewolf/werewolf persecutor.

Other supportive details are merely opposites: harmless/murderous; 
dog/cat; practical/theoretical, etc.

The special nature of the prime reflection is again demonstrated in 
the 2/6 imagery of  Professors Lockhart and Snape.

As expected, when it comes to Lockhart's primary revelation, Snape 
balances the equation with the mirror-opposite secret.

Talent-less rip-off artist/ripped-off genius.  

Lockhart is a great phony--publishing books in which he claims the 
talents of others as his own. Faced with the prospect of pursuing the 
creature in the Chamber, he confesses himself a poseur of the worst 
sort. 

Snape, conversely, is the genius who penned innovative ideas in his 
own personal book, for his own private use. This recorded brilliance 
was ripped-off throughout year 6 (by Harry, who was emulating 
Lockhart), with Snape only revealing himself (to those who didn't 
already know) as the puissant, savant, HBP, in his final scene.

Then we have the list of opposites:

Lockhart primps and fusses with his blonde curls, keeping them 
immaculately styled.

With his oft-mentioned greasy curtains of black, Snape clearly pays 
little attention to his coiffure.

Lockhart boasts a dazzlingly perfect, *award-winning* smile. 

Snape's fangs, we are told, are yellow and uneven. 

Lockhart is an incompetent boob, constantly jockeying for undeserved 
praise.

Snape is a wizard of extraordinary power and genius, who not only 
foregoes rightful credit, but routinely allows himself to look bad, 
*for the cause.*

Lockhart seeks attention, Snape keeps a low profile.

Lockhart favors costumes of lavender or baby blue; Snape goes all in 
black.

Lockhart is a coward; Snape is the epitome of courage.

Molly Weasley relies on Lockhart's *expertise* to solve her quotidian 
problems.

Molly's opposite, Narcissa Malfoy, relies on Snape for much graver 
concerns.  

Molly has a fatuous, superficial *crush*  on Lockhart.

Narcissa has deeper, more authentic, feelings for Snape, as I 
mentioned back in message #83546, posted October 25, 2003--well 
before HBP was released.

In CoS, Lockhart offers himself as a soi-disant duel master, only to 
demonstrate that he is a worthless twit.  He cannot teach Harry 
anything.

In HBP, Snape duels effortlessly with Harry, demonstrating his 
facility with a wand, not to mention the exponential value of a 
combined prowess in both nonverbal spells and Legilimency.  As so 
often noted, he continues to teach Harry, even as he parry's the 
lad's offense.

In CoS, Lockhart tries to attack Harry (and Ron).

In HBP, Snape repeatedly protects Harry, while defending himself from 
Harry's attacks.

The last we see of Lockhart in CoS, he is headed for the hospital 
wing.

After the climatic action, Snape does not go to the hospital wing--
this non-event is made significant--for artistic purposes--in that 
the rest of the *Hogwarts* team is summoned to Madam Pomfrey's 
domain, by McGonagall.  

In sum, Snape clearly reverses Lockhart, just as Umbridge reverses 
Lupin.

Here, I shall pause to mention, that I discovered this pattern back 
in the summer of 2003 when, upon completing Book 5, I noticed how 
perfectly Sirius's plot arced in  *mirrored symmetry*  between books 
3 and 5. (From that nub, I have since teased out a subtler, more 
complicated, plotting system.)  

Many of the implications were clear to me at that time.  
Significantly, Snape is so obviously Lockhart's opposite that, after 
reading OoP, and seeing the post-GoF pattern emerging, I was able to 
predict that Snape would be DADA in Books 6 & 7 (~circa July of 
2003). 

I first hinted at it in Post # 73715, posted July 28, 2003 and then 
explained further in 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/81961?
threaded=1&l=1
"Crying Wolf," posted September 30, 2003, in (partially superfluous) 
part: 

>Talisman then: I'm hanging tight with the position that Lupin was 
very
>well informed.

>You don't think it was a coincidence that he showed up to teach DADA
>this particular year, do you? No, he was a planned part of the
>Sirius comeback tour.

>Lupin is old Order, and never has a paying job unless DD gives it to
>him. He has always been available for DADA Prof. DD brings him in
>NOW because of his special connection to Sirius. He has a definite
>role to play, and he is fully aware of the program.

>(DD didn't have to settle for Quirrell or Lockhart, he chose them
>for reasons having to do with his plan, as well.

>He knows the effect of his DADA seat, he's the one who enchanted the
>position.

>Actually he could have any of the Order any year, if he wanted
>them. He uses the old warrior Moody for LV bait/alarm in Gof, and
>he'll use Snape in 6& 7, because it specifically suits his purposes
>to do so.)

>If you just relax and accept it, you'll find it all fits so easy.<g>

***************end old post**************

We can discuss DD's clever little jinx later. ; )

For the record, I also predicted Snape as the HBP, in various places, 
including this site's pre-HBP poll: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/surveys?id=1294134 .

What then shall we expect in Deathly Hallows?

Why, that the DADA professor will reverse Quirrell, naturally.

That much is sure.

How will it play out?  Here's my prediction:

The *completing* symmetry establish by the first two pairs has 
serious implications, here.

Where Quirrell was LV`s servant, our DADA professor will be seen to 
be
*someone`s*
 master.  

Where Quirrell was subjugated by LV's dominating insertion of 
himself, our DADA Professor will be seen to empower
*someone*
by 
inserting a critical part of his essence into his very willing host.

::Talisman pauses to regain a grip on herself and dip her toe in more 
goo::

::sigh::

Where Quirrell infiltrated DD's stronghold, Hogwarts, for the purpose 
of bringing LV back to power, our DADA professor will be seen to have 
infiltrated LV`s stronghold, for the purpose of  *defeating* the Dark 
Lord.


Or should I say our DA professor? Because, as I predict in Part I, 
Hogwarts will fall to Voldemort, soon, if it hasn't already.

In such a case, the professor in question will likely not teach 
Defense Against Dark Arts, but the Dark Arts, proper.

This, as we close the narrative circle, sorts well as a sequential 
reversal of Harry's unrealized Book 1 fear that if Voldemort is able 
to come back, he will take Hogwarts and *turn it into a school for 
the Dark Arts* (PS/SS Chpt. 16, Scholastic paperback p 270).

Therefore our forthcoming DA qua DADA professor has infiltrated 
Voldemort's ranks, working against the DL, covertly, from the heart 
of Darkwarts.

Flowing from that, the reversals continue: where Quirrell was a 
person of weak resolve and character, our  DA professor will be a 
person of singular personal strength.

Where Quirrell was a nervous stammering wreck, our DA professor will 
be cool, capable, and smooth.

Where Quirrell was *fine while he was studying' outta books* but came 
back from his hands-on sabatical *scared of his own subject* (PS/SS 
Chpt. 5, p.70-71.), our anticipated DA professor will be seen to 
revel in application.

Where Quirrell's lessons *turned out to be a bit of a joke* (PS/SS 
Chpt.8, p. 134), the DA professor's instructions will be critical.

Where Quirrell found the Potter boy too *nosy* (PS/SS Chpt. 17, p. 
288), the DA professor will lead the fledgling on to deeper 
discoveries.

Where Quirrell tries to kill Harry, the DA Professor will protect him.

Why be coy? Where Quirrell sports a certain wrap-around chappeau, our 
DA professor would never *put on a turban.*
(J.K. Rowling, America Online chat transcript, AOL.com, 19 October 
2000, 
http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-aol-chat.htm )

Oh, yes, it's Snape all the way. Back to my prediction of 2003.

We are told that merciless Voldemort abandons Quirrell, leaving him 
to die (PS/SS Chpt.17,  P. 298).

I know there are some gentle souls who believe Quirrell is still out 
there, waiting to be kissed until he is good, but Rowling was really 
quite explicit in the Edinburgh Book Festival interview:  

"Someone said that Harry saw Quirrell die, but that is not true. He 
was unconscious when Quirrell died, in Philosopher's Stone. He did 
not know until he came around that Quirrell had died when Voldemort 
left his body."
(JKR Official Site: News Section, 15 August 2004
http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/news_view.cfm?id=80 )

This, in my opinion, has delightful ramifications for Snape.  

For in reversing the scenario, with Snape playing anti-Quirrell, I 
expect DD to reverse Voldemort.

 Therefore, I predict a Book 7 revelation of Snape's *special bond* 
with DD.  

Unlike the bond between Quirrell and Voldemort, this will be no bond 
of weakness, punishment, and domination.   Based on the nature of the 
anticipated reversal,  it will have been a voluntary offering, an act 
of generosity and love.

Snape will be seen to have willingly extended this bond--for it will 
be he who has *entered* DD--in an act of manifest selflessness, which 
I extrapolate, will have sustained an otherwise dead Dumbledore--
likely for the past fifteen plus years.

The posters who suspected that, on the night of the Tower,  Snape was 
merely removing life-support, at the patient's request, will be 
validated.  

DD, therefore, has been supremely vulnerable--indeed, living at 
Snape's pleasure--during the entire adventure, until the events on 
the Tower. 

Little wonder Dumbledore trusts Snape.

It's also why DD says, in GoF, that Snape is no more a DE than he is. 
They have a very close relationship. ; )

As to the nature of this bond, I imagine we will learn the new 
magical word Rowling warned us, in her September 29, 2006 Diary 
entry, that she was conjuring for this final book:

"Sitting at my desk trying to invent a word yesterday brought back 
memories of the last time I did so." 
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/sources/jkr.com/jkr-com-diary.html#8

Though I'm moving into areas of less certainty, I will speculate 
about some of the details.

The Q!Mort connection was via the head.  I think a fitting Snapledore 
connection to occur in the heart.

Indeed, I rather like the prediction that Snape gave DD his heart. 

Sing it Celestina: "Oh, my poor heart where has it gone? / It's left 
me for a spell
" (HBP Chpt. 16, p.332).

Of course Snape didn't wear his heart on his sleeve, heh, he 
deposited it in an excentric old wizard.

But now he has it back.  

Just in time for us to find out who he loves. ::Talisman really 
shivers::

Where was I?  ::blink:: Oh, yes.  

Voldemort mercilessly abandoned Quirrell, but DD insited that Snape 
release him to the next great adventure. This was all part of DD's 
plan for year 6.  Snape undertook the UV because he was supposed to.  
It worked toward solidifying his cover for Book 7.  But he never 
liked it. Hence the flinch.

He had no doubt promised DD that he would release DD at DD's request--
but as the argument in the forest demonstrates, Snape found it a 
loathsome proposition and wanted to demur.

Yes, yes, yes, as others have felt.  Snape's look of deepest loathing 
on the tower was not a demonstation of his malice toward DD, it was 
the look of someone doing what they hate to do.

And yes, when DD said "Severus
please
" (HBP Chpt. 27., p. 595) he 
*did* mean sever us, please.

A list member named drcarole71 suggested, in message #161669, that 
that the green goo DD drank was a Hx, from which he desired severance.

That was a good guess; at least warm to the idea of Rowling's 
wordplay and that there was some special connection that DD wanted to 
unbind.  But it's neither the green goo nor a Voldemortian Hx at 
issue, rather it is Snape's  long-extended yet-to-be-revealed *life 
support* tether from which DD sought release.

And yes, as others have variously speculated, the Avada Kedavra was 
ineffective, a mere cover for the actual nonverbal spell which 
*unplugged the machine.*

Best of all, Quirrell's death gives more reason to hope that Snape 
survives.  And with his heart restored.

Huzzah.

You know, at this point I hear DD's echoing words: Neither can live 
while the other survives.  This brings me back to a post I wrote 
circa October 3, 2003 in the thread called "Snape is Number One," 
Message #82229.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/82229

Well, it's no secret that Snape has always been the Chosen One in my 
book.  ; )    

And for those who argue that the books are all about Harry, let me 
remind you that they are all about growing up.  A big step in growing 
up--specifically from adolescence to adulthood, is the epiphany that 
it is *not* all about you.

Adolescence--a time which nicely includes the span of years from 11 
to 17--is a time when one is supposed to develop the ability for what 
Piaget called *formal operations.*

Drawing on Piaget's work, Developmental Psychologist David Elkinds 
asserted a theory that the new abstract cognitive abilities of the 
formal operations phase --which include the thinker's ability to 
reflect upon his or herself--feed a great deal of practice in this 
very enterprise--resulting in a distinct phase of adolescent 
egocentrism.

Arising from this be-pimpled ego-fest are such phenomena as *the 
personal fable* wherein the teen fantasizes that his or her life is 
unique and heroic (I am the Chosen One!); the *imaginary audience* in 
which our pubescent hero believes that everyone is staring at his 
scar and whispering about him, and a sense of invincibility, which 
leads to jumping down dark holes without any plan for getting back 
out.

Part of the wisdom (which, sadly, some people never gain) of emerging 
adulthood, is a matured theory of mind that allows the individual to 
realize that others have differing views and priorities, that every 
headache or opinion one has is actually not newsworthy, and that one 
may, alas, not be the center of the magical universe.

Indeed, we all know that the center of the magical universe is 
Severus Snape. ; )

Get over it Harry.

Back to Dark Mirror Part Deux, the 7 hurdles  en route to the stone 
likely do line up with the 7 Hxes.  Quirrell was unable to solve the 
riddle of the Mirror of Erised, but Snape will know exactly how to 
employ any mirror that pops up in Deathly Hallows.

Do you suppose, in DH, it will be the two-way mirror?

Instead of his *heart's desire,*  will it help reveal to him the 
thing for which Rowling has been preparing him:
"
it will take 7 books to get Harry to the point where he has to 
face, um I can't say. But in Book 7, you know, there's a big climax 
coming here and it will take that many books to get him there. 
(J.K. Rowling interview transcript, The Connection (WBUR Radio), 12 
October, 1999,
http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/1099-connectiontransc2.htm )

When Harry looks in the mirror, just which Hx do you suppose he'll 
see? <veg>

So Harry grows up and learns that it isn't really all about Harry, 
and that the evil from which he is destined to protect the world, 
resides within himself.

Well, that's a good day's work.  I hate to trucate this exploration 
unnecessarily, but there are more posts to bang out and that elf may 
be back.

But, by all means, a you await the midnight hour, take the time to 
consider the Quirrellish implications for Snape in Deathly Hallows.

I'll be back with the Dark Mirror, part the third.  I hope.

(*Do you see another napkin around here, Lucius?  Dang.  Do you wear 
boxers?  No, a thong won`t do.  No.  Just put it away.*)

Talisman, noting that a circle-in-a-triangle is the symbol for a 
magick mirror, from whence a Sorcerer conjured his deamons.

Makes a nice metaphor for an author, conjuring
er
producing her 
creative work.  Especially a work involving magic.  Not to mention 
mirroring.

Rowling has added an additional line, which seems nothing so much as 
a line of symmetry.  And did I mention? The circle-in-the-triangle 
mirror was also used for scrying.

P.S.
I did promise to tell you about that pesky DADA jinx.

Sure, LV put the whammy on the position.  Pure spite--maybe with the 
added benefit that he might have an easier time upon reapplication.  
Thin out the competition for the job.

But do you think LV's jinx is still running the program?

Jinxes are the weakest from of negative magic.  If you didn't pick 
that up from Rowling's site then you probably missed another WOMBAT 
III question.  Not only that, but you should have noticed that you've 
been hit in the head with a sack of clue bricks.

Come off it.  What, Bill can lift ancient Egyptian curses but DD 
can't sponge out a dirty little jinx?

It was handled long ago.

So why the revolving door in the DADA office? Simple. DD wanted LV to 
believe his jinx was still in effect.

Why? Because DD has had his plan mapped out for a very long time.  At 
least as far back as Tom Riddle's childhood. (Which reminds me, I 
still owe Scarah a post.)

As I have explained here and elsewhere, over the years, most recently 
in The Plan,  Message #159930: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/159930,
DD wanted LV to believe his jinx was still effective for the same 
reason DD purchased Riddle Manor, all those years ago. Both of these 
preparations play out in year 4.

With respect to the jinx, DD wanted LV to count on the need for a new 
incoming DADA professor in year 4--which he did--and to have no 
suspicion whatsoever when this in fact transpired, let alone when the 
person whom LV's servant would have to capture and impersonate was 
DD's old pal, Moody.

If the jinx has been disposing of DADA professors for decades, it's 
no wonder DD is down to retired ex-Aurors with more loyalty to DD 
than ambition for a new career.

And it worked, LV took the bait and, from the moment the first 
dustbin clanked, DD was all over Fake!Moody.

I won't try to lay out the lengthy GoF evidence here, but suffice it 
to say that LV is not the author of the reigning jinx.

The jinx, as we know it, isn't indifferent as to *how* a DADA 
professor is ousted.  It isn't like any of them declined a second 
year because they had more lucrative offers or were marrying Romanian 
Counts.

No, the jinx *always* nixes a second term by revealing the darkest 
secret of the person who holds the seat.

LV would never have sent Fake!Moody into such a situation.  It was 
his profound desire to achieve Harry's blood without anyone being the 
wiser--that's why he bothered set up an *accidental* death 
attributable to the historically dangerous TWT (which DD arranged for 
just this year--he`s so accommodating). 

If LV had ever made such a jinx, he would have removed it himself, 
prior to sending Fake!Moody in.

He didn't plan for Fake!Moody to remain more than one year, so his 
own old jinx was no issue, but he would never have risked a jinx that 
would disclose Fake!Moody's secret.

It wasn't his jinx.

I doubt that there is any jinx at all.  Voldemorts was removed years 
ago.  It seems more likely to me that DD merely achieves the 
revelation of his DADA profs by his own devices.  But, if we must 
have one, at least it is one of DD own design, suited to his purposes.

Oh, and that's why Snape outed Lupin (as if Lupin wasn't already a 
known WW). Snape was supposed to.  The jinx must be seen to be in 
effect.  Lupin was there to accomplish a mission, no more.  DD was 
always planning on LV's mole, for year 4.  


PSS
 I'll add another prediction:

That little rant Harry has near the end of HBP.  The one, speaking of 
Snape, where he says:

"Yeah, that fits
He'd play up the pure-blood side so he could get in 
with Lucius Malfoy and the rest of them

 He's just like Voldemort
ashamed of his parentage, trying to make 
himself feared using the Dark Arts, gave himself an impressive new 
name--*Lord* Voldemort--the Half-Blood *Prince*---

This will all be demonstrated to be totally opposite.

So soon, so soon