Severus Snape. Professor of Potions and Head of Slytherin House at Hogwarts

Professor Severus Snape

Severus Snape has been Potions Professor at Hogwarts for 14 years, though he has regularly applied for the post of Defence against the Dark Arts Professor and been turned down every time. Dumbledore's continuing refusal to allow Snape to take up a post which for some time now has been all but impossible to fill is interesting. It can't be a lack of trust, as Dumbledore has made it quite clear on a number of occasions that he trusts Severus Snape implicitly. Nor can it be a lack of qualification as Snape is known to have excellent knowledge of the Dark Arts. Perhaps then it is unsuitability, an incompatibility with a Defence class which is holding him off from his ambition. Or perhaps Dumbledore does not wish to lose the services of an excellent Potions Professor.

Severus Snape is Head of Slytherin House and is not averse to showing favoritism towards students in his house, on occasion he has been known to overlook or play down Slytherin transgressions, whilst dealing harshly with the other houses. As unofficial spokesman and leader of the Slytherin students, Draco Malfoy has Snape's favour, whilst Harry has suffered the Potions master's unremitting hatred from the moment he set foot in Hogwarts. Snape's hatred of Harry is a hangover from his hatred of James Potter, Harry's father. James and his friends made Snape's school life hell, although it may be said