How much does Snape know? was Wormtail's Name In the Confession (WAS: Spying Game...)

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 40426

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "marinafrants" <rusalka at i...> wrote:
> As for Snape's expression of "fury and horror" -- well, Snape just 
> discovered the arrogant bastard who nearly murdered him all those 
> years ago is now a member of Dumbledore's inner circle.  And what's 
> more, Snape has just revealed a major secret about himself -- a 
> secret he almost certainly would not have revealed so openly if 
he'd 
> known that Sirius was listening in.  I'd say fury and horror are 
> exactly what I would expect from Snape here.
> 
> I think Dumbledore was phrasing it as a reminder of something Snape 
> already knew rather than as a brand new revelation.

Many fine points were raised by this discussion.  I'm going to throw 
in my two cents, too.  I think that Dumbledore is smart enough to use 
unexpected situations to further his cause.  He didn't know that the 
end of the Tournament and its aftermath with Crouch, Jr. would lead 
to a gathering in the Hospital room.  Now Dumbledore realizes that he 
needs to marshall his forces while the Ministry dithers, and also 
that two of the people he wishes to rely on are in the room and hate 
each other. He's got to get them to agree to be, at the very least, 
unwilling allies.

What does he do?  He requests that Sirius reveal himself.  By doing 
so he's saying to Sirius "Snape can be trusted to know what your 
Animagus form is and he won't betray that secret."  And he's saying 
to Snape, "The big black dog is Sirius' best method of escaping 
detection by the Ministry and I trust that you will keep that secret."

Dumbledore clearly hopes that the two will put aside their mutual 
abhorence to work for the greater good.  They seem to be grudgingly 
willing to do that for the moment.  And maybe they will be entrusted 
with tasks that won't require they work closely together, although, I 
for one, am hoping for some deliciously snarky, snarly exchanges 
between the two in future books.

Marianne