Return of Snape the spy

[Lisa]

No: HPFGUIDX 23557

Many good points have been made about Snape, making it hard to know 
what to believe.  Here's some more food for thought to muddy the 
waters.

>From what Voldemort said at the end of GoF, I think he knows that 
Snape, whatever form he was in, has betrayed him.  I referenced this 
quote in another message already, so I won't repeat it.  So he can't 
go back to Voldemort as Snape, because he fought against Quirrel, who 
was carrying Voldemort.  If he was using a polyjuice guise, he 
wouldn't be able to go back in that form either, because Voldemort 
made it clear that he considers him a traitor in that quote I 
mentioned.  Furthermore, if he were to return to the DE's using 
polyjuice to assume a new guise, he would no doubt be excluded from 
the Inner Circle, making him a less than useful spy.  

There's also the issue of Lucius Malfoy.  We know that Lucius likes 
Snape.  I always assumed this was because of their connection through 
the DE's.  If Snape had been using a polyjuice disguise, Malfoy 
wouldn't know to be fond of Snape, because he wouldn't know he'd ever 
been a DE.  

On the other hand, in support of the polyjuice theory, the identities 
of all the other DE's seem to be pretty common knowledge.  If Snape's 
involvement with Voldemort were open, as with the other DE's, I doubt 
they would let him become a teacher at Hogwarts.  Even with 
Dumbledore's support, too many parents would have objected.  Or...was 
 he a spy the whole time he was with the DE's?  Meaning, he joined for 
the simple purpose of being a double agent from the beginning.  And 
how many people would have known this?  Really, I don't see how Snape 
could have served Voldemort without using polyjuice and end up where 
he is currently.  

I think that's enough thoughts to sufficiently muddy the waters. :)