Snape's DE past (was:Re:Snape's "mind set")

[i_am_erasmas]

No: HPFGUIDX 44312

eloiseherisson at a... wrote:
> A great many people make the same asssumption, which in itself is 
not unreasonable, given the apparently public outing he gets in the 
Pensieve hearing.

I think we pretty much have to assume that that particular hearing 
was closed, meaning not on public record with witnesses sworn to 
secrecy. Otherwise Snape's cover had already been blown before 
Voldemort's first fall. 



In the Pensieve chapter of GoF, Harry notices Rita Skeeter attends 
the session with Bagman and then Crouch Jr. It was Karkaroff's trial 
that Dumbledore repeats his testimony that Snape had been turned 
before Voldemort's downfall. Since Karkaroff's trial was more part of 
an investigation than a sentencing hearing, it would make sense that 
it would be closed to the press and the public. 

Dumbldore lays it out in the open: "'I have given evidence already on 
this matter," he said calmly.  "Severus Snape was indeed a Death 
Eater. However, he rejoined our side before Lord Voldemort's downfall 
and turned spy for us, at great personal risk.  He is now no more a 
Death Eater than I am.'"

I don't see how he could say that if that session had been a public 
hearing. Wouldn't they have just shut Karkaroff up and moved along?

The session that Skeeter attended would almost have to be open, since 
Bagman was a wizarding household-name at the time, and since there 
was widespread interest in punishing the torturers of the 
Longbottoms. I suspect that this hearing was exceptional for allowing 
reporters and presumably other members of the public to attend. 

Erasmas