Snape's DE past/ What is he up to?

[Sydney]

No: HPFGUIDX 44370

Just a quick note from a newbie-- like Eloise, I had formulated a 
little theorie-ette to smooth over the difficulties of Snape's outing 
at the tribunal.  The only way I could make sense of this is by 
assuming the trials were covered by some kind of secrecy 
charm, rather like the Fidelius-- everyone in the court room knew 
what happened, but where constrained from revealing it if the 
subject was aquitted.  

The fly in this ointment though is the end of GoF, where Fudge 
says (hang on, I'll go grab my book...)

"'You are merely repeating the names of those who were 
aquitted of being Death Eaters thirteen years ago!' said Fudge 
angrily, "You could have found those names in old reports of the 
trials!"'

Any way around this?  Is Fudge ever-so-evil, and knows perfectly 
well that Harry couldn't have obtained these names that way?  Is 
he too hysterical to think clearly?  Or is Snape's spying public 
knowledge, and he merely dodges assasination attempts every 
other Wednesday?


- Sydney, whose hobby is coming up with patches for Rowling's 
gorgeous but rather buggy programming....