Snape and the Death Eaters?

[erinellii]

No: HPFGUIDX 55318

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "annoyedpackrat" 
<Neotoma73 at a...> wrote:
> As to the legal wrangling, wizarding society seems a few centuries 
> behind the Muggle one, so the court system could be much less fair 
> and open than one might suspect, and the Death Eaters could have 
been  subjected to secret trials. That's the only way I can think of 
Snape  being cleared and yet not have his status as Death Eater and 
spy come  out -- which it hadn't, since Sirius said he'd never heard 
about  Snape as a Death Eater, even though Sirius suspected Snape and 
knew  that most of Snape's schoolfriends had gone Dark.

ME:
Ok, first off, we do know that the court system most certainly *is* 
less fair than the real world one.  Crouch in particular is mentioned 
as having had the power to send suspects (including Sirius) to jail 
without a trial.  And there possibly were secret trials.  But Snape's 
was not one of them.  

Here are some quotes from GoF when Harry is in the pensieve:

*****************************************

Breathing hard and fast, Harry looked around him.  Not one of the 
witches and wizards in the room (and there were at least two hundred 
of them) was looking at him.


"Snape has been cleared by this council,"  said Crouch distainfully.
"He has been vouched for by Albus Dumbledore."
    "No!" shouted Karkaroff, straining at the chains that bound him 
to the chair. "I assure you!  Severus Snape is a Death Eater!"
   Dumbledore had gotten to his feet.
    " 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."

*******************************************

Both these quotes are from the same trial, Karkaroff's.   Over two 
hundred people heard that Snape was a spy for the good side.  Plus we 
don't know how many learned about it the first time Dumbledore gave 
evidence.  I contend that it is rather hard to keep a secret that 
over two hundred people already know.  It may not be general street 
knowledge, but I am positive all the important players know.
  Of course Sirius hadn't heard it.  He was captured the day after 
Voldy fell.  This trial took place months afterwards.  

Actually, I'm not quite sure what I'm trying to contend here.  Oh, 
yeah, I remember.  Just that it is impossible that most of the Death 
Eaters don't already know this about Snape... and someone has 
probably already told You-Know-Who.  Snape's secret is NOT secret 
enough for him to expect to be welcomed back into the fold.  

Erin