How much does Snape know? was Wormtail's Name In the Confession (WAS: Spyin

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 40487

Naama wrote:
> 
> Hmmm. But if Snape knows and accepts (i.e., believes) that 
Sirius is  innocent - and therefore an ally - why was he so 
shocked that Sirius was there?  
> When Sirius transforms to human form, the look on Snape's 
face "was one of mingled fury and horror." He snarls, "Him! What 
is he doing  here?". Again, if Snape knows that Sirius is not a 
traitor, why the  fury and horror? I would expect "a look of 
loathing" <<

I think the answer to this is at the end of PoA. I don't have my 
book with me, but I believe Sirius says in his letter that he will 
allow himself to be seen somewhere far away from Hogwarts so 
that the watch on the school will be lifted.

Assuming that happened, Snape was shocked because he 
believed up till that moment in the hospital wing that Sirius was 
long gone. Of all the things he was steeling himself for as a 
result of Voldemort's return, dealing with Black was not one of 
them. 

Even though Snape may have  intellectually accepted that Black 
was innocent and that Dumbledore considers him an ally, his 
gut feelings are another matter. This is still the person he thinks 
tried to get him killed at the age of sixteen, and someone whom 
Snape has reason enough to regard as a loose cannon (two 
enns). And now Snape has been blindsided by Sirius's 
reappearance. He must know, from what Dumbledore has just 
said about "recognize each other for what they are," what is 
about to be asked of him. I think his look of fury and horror is well 
justified.

Pippin