The curse on the DADA position

[Mistress Siana]

Since we now know that no DADA teacher stayed longer than a year since Dumbledore refused the position to Lord Voldemort, I wonder what kind of curse Voldemort used. What does it do? Does it simply cause people to leave in the end, for whatever reason...but wouldn't that be uncharacteristically 'nice' of Voldemort? I wondered if there's anything the incidents that lead to discrediting the previous DADA teachers have in common. Then, I remebered that JKR once said that Dumbledore wouldn't give Snape the job because he feared it might bring out the worst in Snape. Could it be that? Could the curse bring out the worst in people? So far it's been

Quirrell - he had Voldemort inside of his head, who came out in the end
Lockheart - his life was a lie, the 'true' Lockheart came out
Lupin - uncharacteristically forgot his potion so the beast in him came out
Moody - was a Death Eater in disguise, his true nature came out
Umbridge - a little tougher, her true intentions possibly, or her cruelty
Snape - here's my problem...it works only if he's really on Voldemort's side, which I'm not quite inclined to believe

Also, wouldn't Voldie take the curse off if one of his men gets the job? Ideas? What's the secret of the DADA position?

[Enchanter]

that is extremly interesting. I think you are on to something. I dont think Voldemort would take the curse off because as soon as a teacher lasted a second year everyone would know thats who Voldemort would want as the teacher. Or maybe you cant take the curse off.

[Froggs]

I like that idea a lot! The curse either brings out the teacher's inner nature, or it brings out the worst in them. And you are right, it holds true only if Snape really is a bad guy...which I think he is, although no one (not even my parents) agrees with me!

[Enchanter]

I agree with you Froggs, i think Snape is bad

[Salazar Slytherin]

i disagree i think snape and dumbledore came to a compromise that dumbledore must die if you dont belive me i have evidence.

look at the way hagrid describes the fight been snape and dumbledore.. there is something dumbledore wants snape to do that he is positivley mad at. could it be dumbledore knows about the unbreakable vow and feels that now that he is getting old he will die soon and that snape is more of an asset to the order considering dumbledore would have died soon anyway and he knew that.

[Mrs. Luca Black]

Bah, Snape is evil even if he was just following Dumbledore's orders. Perhaps the worst that was brought out in him had to do with him consenting to the Unbreakable Vow. Or it has to do with him playing both sides, which I think is exactly what he's doing.

I think the curse is removable, but Voldemort knew that Snape wouldn't be able to return the next year because Dumbledore wouldn't be there and no one else would put up with his grouchy behind.

I wonder if they just tweaked the name of the position and the job description if the curse would still apply. It'd at least be worth a try, if Dumbledore hadn't already done so, but I don't think it's likely to happen because I doubt McGonagall knows about the curse.

[SunsetG|rl]

I think the curse will eventually dissapear when Voldemort dies. That is about to happen in the 7th book, right?

And I don't think there is anything necesarily wrong with the fact that teachers change every year. Last year I had four different teachers of history. And only in a year's time.

Anyway I doubt that Voldemort did a very specific charm. I think he only wished that no one could keep that job for more than a year. Though it was an interesting theory Mistress Siana brought up. It might just be another clue to Snape's aligence to Voldemort.

[voldemortsmostfaithful]

i disagree i think snape and dumbledore came to a compromise that dumbledore must die if you dont belive me i have evidence.

look at the way hagrid describes the fight been snape and dumbledore.. there is something dumbledore wants snape to do that he is positivley mad at. could it be dumbledore knows about the unbreakable vow and feels that now that he is getting old he will die soon and that snape is more of an asset to the order considering dumbledore would have died soon anyway and he knew that.

When Hagrid says Dumbledore told him flat out to do it I think he means question Malfloy. Not kill him. Snape wouldn't have made the unbreakable vow without consulting Dumbledore. Oh by the way I promised to kill you... No way... Also she describes Snapes face as revulsion of hatred. He hated Dumbledore... he was a really good occlumens and he was offering Draco help. If Draco tells him what he's doing in R.O.R then Snape helps him, simple as that. I'm pretty sure Snape is evil...

One last reason he gives to Dumbledore for being refined is he felt bad the Potters were killed. HE HATED THE POTTERS!!! Notice all of a sudden he's sad and wishes he was gone when he thinks Voldemort is dead. If Voldemort kills all the potters he is estatic and he is still a death eater. He knew it was over... being a death eater that is and decided to lie to get a nice safe home instead of in his words "a stint in azkaban."

[crystallised_pineapple]

but in the pensieve in GoF DD said he changed before LV's downfall...

[SunsetG|rl]

Snape wouldn't have made the unbreakable vow without consulting Dumbledore.

Snape in room with Narcisa and Bellatrix (she really hates him for believing he's on Dumbledore's side...probably even wanting to kill him). Narcisa says about the unbreakeble vow. Snape thinks it's only about helping Draco. He agrees. Then all of a sudden Narcisa says that if draco fails...he should do it for him (I kinda belive this was a sudden ideea, cause else Snape would have felt it commin', and probably wouldn't have twitched)... Now what was he supposed to do..."Oh wait...I have to ask DD how he feels about this...I should ask him...consult with him...after all it's his life".

And I still stick to that old argument that Dumbledore must know more about Snape then we are let to know. I mean the "really sorry for setting a lose criminal on the potters (which I so conviniently hate)" doesn't cut it. I mean Dumbledore must be an idiot to buy this!

And yet... Dumbledore begging for his life? Snape avoiding to hurt Harry (whom he also hated just as much)...or any other student for that mater...and simply stopping his curses? And when has actually Snape showed any true hate for Dumbledore? Before this... I mean Snape isn't the kind that hides his feelings...especially when it's about hate.

[crystallised_pineapple]

but he must have been hiding some hate.. either DD or LV...

the idea about the vow is definately one to think about though, especially about the fact that perhaps it was a sudden idea i never thought of that before...

grrrr... confused again although i still think snape is probably bad... i think

[SunsetG|rl]

I for one really liked that argument that Snape, in that moment felt hatred for himself, for having to do this, to kill Dumbledore, just like Harry hated himself for having to hurt him so much, when he forced him to drink the potion in the cave. The whole "JKR uses repetition with a purpose" and so on.

And even when book 7 comes out, and it will be written black on white that Snape is pure evil... I'll still have to belive him somewhat good. At least in my own fanfic (which i actually never write...but it's more of a collection of "what if..." thoughts).