Snape and the Death Eaters?

[catphile5]

No: HPFGUIDX 55286

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Cerys Gordon" <cergordon at h...>
wrote:
>Malfoy Sr. always seemed to be friendly with Snape so did he not know
of his betrayal?  

Me:
This is an issue which has bugged me bunches and I really would like
some thoughts on this.

My presumptions include: since Fudge seems to worry about his
constituency, it would follow that the WW has some sort of open
democratic system, which would include a public court system.

Dumbledore said in what could only be a highly visable trial that
Snape had double-crossed LV.  This would be public knowledge and not
hidden from the DE's.  Even if the court transcripts were not publicly
available, any suspected DE's who "got off" would have to make public
their alibi, or face OJ like public resentment.

Even if all of that were not public (and therefore DE) knowledge, the
fact that SS & Dumbledore are so buddy-buddy supportive of each other
should be enough to make the Malfoy's utterly hate SS.

So the question out there is:
Why do the Malfoys like Snape so much?  You'd think they would despise
every bit of Snape as one who has betrayed LV.  But Draco's affinity
for SS seems genuine.  It just doesn't jibe.

"Catphile"