Snape & DADA
Yes, more Snape. Throughout the books, the students talk about how Snape wants the DADA job but is always denied it. I always figured that was just a rumour, spread because they don't like Snape. But is there anything that indicates it's actually true? I'm unsure now.
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He has the perfect temperament for a Potions Master: exacting, precise, demanding, and utterly perfectionist.
I think this is why his occlumency lessons with Harry were such a dismal failure. Occlumency and DADA both require you to trust your instructor, because the things that happen to you personally can be so traumatic. Snape's lack of sympathy would be counterproductive. I think it's also why Lupin and the fake Moody also turned out to be great teachers (as well as Harry in DA), because they were sensitive to their students' needs and weren't impatient with failure the way Snape can be.
Sorry, tangent there.
Was it Percy who said it first? I can't recall - did Percy have a grudge against Snape? Because he seemed to be the most fair-minded of the students back in the day.
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So he has applied for the the DADA position repeatedly, and been denied. I do believe that JKR said that Dumbledore denied Snape the position with the idea of 'let's see how you do in Potions', too, which might have given Snape the idea that he could eventually get the job... which he'd be a diaster at frankly, because his students would be hiding behind their desks, even though he probably does know as much DADA as Lupin.
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My theory is that he either applies or says he applies to keep the rumors going for Slytherin House's benefit. "Hey, evil Death Eater
daddy, our poor Head of House, Snape. He keeps applying for the DADA position and that mean, old Headmaster won't let him have it! He hates Slytherins! Bet we'd learn some REAL Dark Arts with Professor Snape teaching us!"
Then the DEs think "Yes, which is why the old coot keeps him from teaching it. At least Snape is still trying."
This theory can be combined with a theory of Snape working at Hogwarts while Voldemort was still alive, and maybe he kept applying for the position to appease Voldemort.
It can also be combined with the theory that DDore/Snape/McG have been expecting V back for years, and Snape has been keeping up a lot of pretenses in the intervening years, just in case.
My final theory is a simple one: Snape wants a shot at DADA so he can prove to DDore he can resist those forces again. And DDore still doubts him. So, IF Snape is ever given the position, it would be a sign of confidence in him from DDore and a chance to to prove himself TO DDore. Hum. Their love is very t00by in this theory. ;) ;) ;)
love, lore
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Hmmm
It also had me thinking about Trelawny, who is an awful teacher, but we learn that Dumbledore keeps her at Hogwarts because she issued the prophecy about Voldemort and Harry. She doesn't even know it, but she's there so Dumbledore can protect her and the prophecy. Snape, I assume, teaches at Hogwarts for a similar reason, regardless of the position he teaches. Makes me wonder who else is deliberately there for protection, etc.