Question about Snape

[lizbot1981]

No: HPFGUIDX 41013

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "lyssa_2410" <lyssa_2410 at y...> wrote:
> In POA, in the chapter at the Three Broomsticks, Fudge(I think, 
>don't have the book with me) mentions about one of Dumbledore's 
> spies "tipping him off" about James and Lily. Was this spy Snape?

I think it sounds like it sure could be Snape.  In my head, I tend to 
think that Snape was the spy who tipped Dumbledore off, but really, 
it doesn't have to be.  It's like, I automatically think it because 
it seems to make sense (it fits with Snape's hating of James, the 
idea that Snape tipped D. off, but the Potters made a switch - to 
Pettigrew - and so they died anyway) but at the same time, I can't 
let myself assume that that person was Snape.  Who knows what JKR 
will do?  There's always surprises, so I'm trying to make no 
assumptions.  But I could definitely picture that.  
 
> And I've been wondering for awhile: If Snape was a DE, why didn't 
>he get punished for it? 

>Was it because he was giving them info about Voldemort's actions 
>that they decided to let him off for it?
 
I never thought that Snape did all of the most terrible DE 
activities.  It just doesn't flow in my head to think Snape would be 
someone who would torture people, yet Dumbledore could think he could 
be redeemed and trustworthy.  We don't know what exactly Snape did as 
a DE, how long he was a DE, etc.  Maybe not all death eaters kill and 
torture ... but then I guess, what else would they do?  (are there 
administrative tasks that they need done? ha ha, seems funny to me)  
Anyway, I tend to believe that Snape didn't do anything so horrible 
in his past that he would need to be punished - actually, something 
just occurred to me.  OK, maybe he didn't do anything bad enough 
(torture, murder, etc) to land in Azkaban (I apologize if that's 
spelled wrong), but maybe he _was_ punished for being a DE.  We don't 
know if he was punished at some point before Harry started school, if 
he spent time in Azkaban, etc.  

Anyway, those are my thoughts and I apologize if they aren't concise, 
if they ramble, if they aren't terribly innovative or interesting, 
etc.  Writing on here makes me nervous, I feel a tad out of my league.

Lizbot