[HPforGrownups] Secret Agent Snape

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 41739

Kylantyhea wrote:

> At the end of GoF, it's assumed that Snape is going to become a spy
> again.  The problem is that Lord Voldemort was personally there
> (under Quirrell's turban) when Snape was giving Quirrel the shake-
> down about the Sorcerer's Stone.  Which means, Voldemort knows that
> Snape is no longer on his side.

Look back at what Snape said in Quirrell/Voldemort's presence.  Nothing
insinuates that he was working against Voldemort.  In fact, it sounds more
like he is trying to get the stone himself, not keep Quirrell from it, and
Voldemort is possibly stupid enough to think Snape wanted to find it so that
he could present it to Voldemort.  Which is exactly why Harry thinks Snape's
after the stone for Voldemort, he gives that impression to keep himself a
clear channel back to Voldemort later on.

I'll quote an example here:

In the forest:

Snape: "Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?"
Quirrell: "B-b-but Severus, I--"
Snape: "You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell."
Quirrell: "I-I don't know what you mean."
Snape: "You know perfectly well what I mean. --your little bit of hocus
pocus.  I'm waiting."
Quirrell: "B-but I d-d-don't--"
Snape: "Very well, we'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time
to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie."

> With this is mind, do you think that Snape would have readily gone
> back to spy on Voldemort? unless he didn't know that Voldemort was
> under Quirrel's tuban.

Right, which he pretended he didn't, so Voldemort doesn't know that he was
just trying to find out how much Quirrell knew.  Because as far as Voldemort
was concerned, he thought Snape was too stupid to figure out that he was
there the whole time.  But Snape did know (or strongly suspected) Voldemort
was there the whole time, which is why he chose his words so carefully.

> Would Dumbledore send Snape to become a spy
> under such dangerous circumstances? unless Dumbledore didn't know
> that Snape was threatening Quirrell thoughout the first book.

Dumbledore would send Snape because it's the only possible way to know what
Voldemort may be planning and keep an eye on him.  Dumbledore knows about
the threats, I'm sure, but as I said above, they were disguised well enough
to make Voldemort think that perhaps Snape was faithful to him after all.

Richelle