Snape's Task

[LynnP333 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 15875

Hi everyone :-)
I've been reading this board for sometime, but this is my first post.  All of 
you are so thorough... there's not many unturned stones around this place! 

I hope I haven't forgotten some blatantly obvious reason why this theory 
would never pan out but... here's my latest thought on what Snape's task may 
be ... 
Although Snape's return to V's side (either willingly or as a spy) seems the 
most plausible to me ... what if Snape's task was to blackmail Lucius Malfoy 
and get to V that way?  It would still be just as dangerous to Snape if 
Malfoy didn't give in to the threats or betrayed him later.  Of course, this 
in no way ties into what we've read so far, I believe (beyond what Harry 
found out while he was under the invisibility cloak listening in when L. 
Malfoy was getting rid of some evidence with Mr. Borgen in the shop on 
Knockturn Alley [COS]), but it would be one way to bring in the past/secrets 
of the Marauder's and their contemporaries.  It would also allow Snape to 
continue teaching potions without worrying about being summoned by V.  His 
only worry would be if Malfoy betrayed him.  I just keep thinking that there 
are secrets from the past and "tangled webs" from the Marauder's generation 
that we haven't heard yet that could help or hinder the downfall of V.  Also, 
I believe Moody (aka. Barty Jr., but he was speaking of Moody's own past) 
said he was an old friend of both Snape and L. Malfoy.  More connections and 
possible avenues for infiltrating V using his own DE, L. Malfoy? 
Anyway... just throwing yet another theory among the pots of Polyjuice 
potion. <g!>

Also, I always wondered what happened after Moody dragged Draco down to see 
Snape after the bouncing ferret incident.  Did Snape actually bother with 
giving Draco any detention?  If Moody was a friend of both Snape *and* Lucius 
Malfoy, it must have put Snape in an awkward position.  Then again... I think 
it's really just Draco's wishful thinking that his father would really care 
if he was treated unfairly... kind of sad, actually.

Lynn