[HPforGrownups] Snape at the end of GoF

[Kae *]

No: HPFGUIDX 55692


Glory:
>Snape wasn't at that DE meeting when Voldemort's body was returned to >him 
>in GoF and I would think that that meeting would be seen as a >fairly 
>significant, if not important one. If Snape was truly trying to >convince 
>Voldemort of his allegiance, logically he would be there to >see his 
>Masters return to power.

Are we absolutely sure that Snape was *not* at the Death Eater meeting? All 
we know for certain is that he is not named by Voldemort and does not speak 
or act in a way that would allow Harry to recognise him. But JKR makes a 
point of saying "Some of the Death Eaters he [Lord Voldemort] passed in 
silence". Snape *could* have been there, masked and unnamed and completely 
unknown to Harry.

We are supposed to assume that Snape is one of the ones mentioned at the 
end, most likely the "one who I believe has left me forever", but it is also 
possible that he attended the meeting. It would be exactly the sort of 
slight of hand that JKR has been using throughout the series to keep us on 
out toes.

Of course there are problems with this theory. Snape would have had enough 
time to get there and back, but probably only barely. He could have been 
anywhere while Harry is in the maze, but while he does not appear once Harry 
has returned until he storms Moody's office with Dumbledore and McGonagall, 
it's still quite a close call, since he would have had to run from the 
gates, since you can't Apparate within Hogwarts (it says so in "Hogwarts, A 
Hostory" ;)).

He could have made it, however. Which brings up another question. Although 
Dumbledore claims that it was Moody disobeying his order to keep Harry in 
his sight that tipped him off to something being wrong, perhaps it was, in 
fact, Snape - who, after hearing that Voldemort had a loyal follower at 
Hogwarts, put the pieces together and suspected Moody/Crouch, and got back 
in time to warn Dumbledore. Which would explain how Dumbledore figured it 
out so quickly and also, why Snape was there when the office was stormed, 
but didn't seem to be anywhere near Dumbledore when Harry was returned.

Then of course, if Snape was at the DE meeting, why didn't he assist Harry 
in any way while he was forced to duel with Voldemort? Did he already know 
about Priori Incantatem? Was he waiting until the last possible minute to 
blow his cover and help Harry? Did he decide that one boy was a necessary 
sacrifice to keep his cover (unlikely, I think)? Or was he helping Harry in 
a stealthy way that escaped our notice?

All of it is bit of a stretch, but not entirely unlikely. Just a thought to 
keep us wondering.

Laik, also a newbie and thoroughly enjoying the discussion so far.



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