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edited Aug 3, 2017 at 21:08

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This explanation holds for the year that Snape was actually appointed DADA Professor. Why he wanted the post before then is explained further down.

The summer before his appointment as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Snape discovered that the current Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, had only a year to live.

So, taken together, Snape would have known about the curse. It didn't faze him, though. He knew that he had a good shot of becoming Headmaster under Voldemort if he played his cards right. Even if Dumbledore were to confound his diagnosis and live for more than a year the curse need not bother Snape. He can leave Hogwarts and become a full-time Death Eater (and spy).

What about all the previous years when Snape still wanted the job?

It's true that Snape wanted the job, even before he knew that he might go on to become Headmaster. If Snape knew about the curse and had no clear idea what he would do after the DADA job, why would Snape still seek after the position?

Presumably, he assumed that he would be able to stay at Hogwarts. He can simply go back to teaching Potions come the end of the year. FailingWe know that, he can leaveliked it at Hogwarts and become a fullthat he enjoyed the comfort and safety of the castle. And, despite his obsession with Defence Against the Dark Arts, he obviously also loves Potions. He was an expert Potion-time Death Eater (and spy)maker with a decade of experience in the job. There's no reason why, if he'd hired a temporary or inferior Potions teacher, that Dumbledore wouldn't give Snape his old job back at the end of the year. Ron at least thought that that was what might end up happening.

"He might just go back to teaching Potions at the end of the year," Ron said reasonably. "That Slughorn bloke might not want to stay long-term, Moody didn't."
_{(Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 8, Snape Victorious).}

The summer before his appointment as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Snape discovered that the current Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, had only a year to live.

So, taken together, Snape would have known about the curse. It didn't faze him, though. He knew that he had a good shot of becoming Headmaster under Voldemort if he played his cards right. Even if Dumbledore were to confound his diagnosis and live for more than a year the curse need not bother Snape. He can simply go back to teaching Potions come the end of the year. Failing that, he can leave Hogwarts and become a full-time Death Eater (and spy).

This explanation holds for the year that Snape was actually appointed DADA Professor. Why he wanted the post before then is explained further down.

The summer before his appointment as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Snape discovered that the current Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, had only a year to live.

What about all the previous years when Snape still wanted the job?

Presumably, he assumed that he would be able to stay at Hogwarts. He can simply go back to teaching Potions come the end of the year. We know that he liked it at Hogwarts and that he enjoyed the comfort and safety of the castle. And, despite his obsession with Defence Against the Dark Arts, he obviously also loves Potions. He was an expert Potion-maker with a decade of experience in the job. There's no reason why, if he'd hired a temporary or inferior Potions teacher, that Dumbledore wouldn't give Snape his old job back at the end of the year. Ron at least thought that that was what might end up happening.

"He might just go back to teaching Potions at the end of the year," Ron said reasonably. "That Slughorn bloke might not want to stay long-term, Moody didn't."
_{(Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 8, Snape Victorious).}

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created Aug 3, 2017 at 18:27

The Dark Lord

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He knew that he would have a new job anyway within the year.

Namely, Headmaster of Hogwarts.

The summer before his appointment as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Snape discovered that the current Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, had only a year to live.

"You have done very well, Severus. How long do you think I have?"
Dumbledore's tone was conversational; he might have been asking for a weather forecast. Snape hesitated, and then said, "I cannot tell. Maybe a year. There is no halting such a spell forever."
_{(Deathly Hallows, Chapter 33, The Prince's Tale).}

Snape therefore knew that there would be a vacancy for the position of Headmaster within a year. It was Dumbledore's intention that Snape should take this position in order to safeguard the Hogwarts children.

"Lord Voldemort foresees a moment in the near future when he will not need a spy at Hogwarts?"
"He believes the school will soon be in his grasp, yes."
"And if it does fall into his grasp," said Dumbledore, almost, it seemed, as an aside, "I have your word that you will do all in your power to protect the students of Hogwarts?"
Snape gave a stiff nod.
_{(Deathly Hallows, Chapter 33, The Prince's Tale).}

"And Severus, if you are forced to take part in the chase, be sure to act your part convincingly...I am counting upon you to remain in Lord Voldemort's good books as long as possible, or Hogwarts will be left to the mercy of the Carrows..."
_{(Deathly Hallows, Chapter 33, The Prince's Tale).}

Bearing in mind this wider picture, it doesn't matter much whether Snape spends his final year as a full-time teacher teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts or Potions. But, since a position needed to be found for Slughorn and since Snape had wanted to teach DADA for as long as anyone could remember, Dumbledore gave Snape the Defence Against the Dark Arts job.

The DADA curse and Snape's desperation to hold the position were both widely known.

Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, but even Harry, who hated Snape, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face.
_{(Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 5, The Dementor).}

"Well, there's one good thing," he said savagely. "Snape'll be gone by the end of the year."
"What do you mean?" asked Ron.
"That job's jinxed. No one's lasted more than a year...Quirrell actually died doing it. Personally, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for another death..."
_{(Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 8, Snape Victorious).}

So, taken together, Snape would have known about the curse. It didn't faze him, though. He knew that he had a good shot of becoming Headmaster under Voldemort if he played his cards right. Even if Dumbledore were to confound his diagnosis and live for more than a year the curse need not bother Snape. He can simply go back to teaching Potions come the end of the year. Failing that, he can leave Hogwarts and become a full-time Death Eater (and spy).