Snape DE/spy status (WAS Snape and Redemption)

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 76190

Shirley wrote:

> > So, how can Snape possibly be the DE that LV referred to at the end 
> > of GoF if he's still alive and kicking, as well as spying?  

And Steve replied:

> See above. When Dumbledore sent Snape on his secret mission at the end
> of GoF, I suspect Snape went to Malfoy and asked Malfoy to verify to
> Voldemort that Snape had not betrayed him, and that like many of the
> other Death Eaters, he was just biding his time waiting for Voldemort
> to return. Malfoy made the introduction, Snape talked with Voldemort
> and convinced him, that he was ready to re-enter his service and
> continue spying on Dumbledore. That is what he did near the end of the
> first Voldemort War, and that is the role he continues now.


Just to add my two cents...

Until OotP came out, I was certain Snape couldn't possibly have
returned to his role of double agent.  Like Shirley said, Voldemort
certainly isn't stupid, and the evidence strongly points to his doubts
regarding Snape's loyalty.  Whenever this scenario was brought up, I
pictured a lovely little scene: Snape strolls up to Voldemort,
explains  that his apparent side switch was all an act, Voldemort
smiles, says "That's nice", and promptly kills Snape.

Enter Occlumency.  With this little talent, I can suddenly accept the
idea that Snape actually did return to Voldemort, pledge his
unwavering loyalty, and regain acceptance into Voldemort's ranks. 
Although the evidence is a bit sketchy, I think that occlumens are
rare, and Snape's occlumency skills are far above the average of that
small group.  Dumbledore, who seems to be exceptionally skilled in all
forms of magic, ranks Snape as near his own level in this particular
skill.  Voldemort's one consistant weakness thoughout all five books
has been his tendency to underestimate his opponents (a pretty typical
flaw in successful bad guys in general and evil overlords in
particular).  This case was no different.  I'm sure Voldemort is
overconfident in his combined legilimency/torture abilities, and has
never considered the possibility that someone could fool him.  So now,
when Snape strolls up to Voldemort and explains the whole
misunderstanding, Voldemort believes him.  He has no choice.  The
alternative would be that Snape outsmarted and out-magicked him, a
situation so absurd that it wouldn't even enter Voldemort's mind.

-Corinth