TimeTurner!Snape in the graveyard

[Judy]

No: HPFGUIDX 46965

Theresnothingtoit proposed that Snape *was* in the Graveyard Scene,
having used a Time Turner to return there after Harry returned to
Hogwart's.

This is a clever and orginal theory, and I agree that, although Time
Turners are outside of Snape's field of expertise, Dumbledore could
have filled him in the summer after PoA.

But, I don't really see a reason for Snape to time-travel back to the
Graveyard scene. Being at the Graveyard really buys him (and the
"Light" side) nothing. There is no need for him to spy on the
Graveyard scene, as Harry had already witnessed it. So, the main point
to Snape's being at the Graveyard would be to convince Voldemort that
he was loyal.

But would being at the Graveyard really help convince Voldemort of
Snape's loyalty?  I don't think so.  Snape already has a perfectly
good explanation for being tardy when Voldemort summoned the DE's to
the graveyard -- Snape was with Dumbledore, watching the Triwizard
Tournament. Dumbledore would have noticed if he was gone. 

Snape's problem in convincing Voldemort of his loyalty isn't that he
was late to the Graveyard -- his problem is everything before that. 
Dumbedore "outed" him as a spy in the Pensieve scene, he's been at
Hogwarts for years, and he didn't help QuirrelMort.  Now, I think that
with the help of Voldemort's immense ego, some persuasiveness potion,
and perhaps some testimony as to Snape's (bad) character by Lucius, 
all of these problems can be overcome.  But, I don't think that
time-traveling back to the Graveyward would help much.

~~ Judy Serenity, who really really needs to sign off the computer and
do some work