[HPforGrownups] Re: If you are prepared, Severus- Question answered?

[Wendy St John]

No: HPFGUIDX 76414


~Carina wrote:

"Well, in OoP, Dolores Umbridge says to Snape, "I expected better, 
Lucius Malfoy always speaks most highly of you!" It would seem Snape 
is still in good graces with Voldemort, or else why would Lucius, a 
Death-Eater have a good opinion of him? I find it rather strange 
though. Snape didn't apparate to the graveyard at the end of GoF, 
when Voldemort summoned his followers, and so Voldemort should have 
been displeased, was displeased, in fact. (quote: "One, too cowardly 
to return ... he will pay. One, who I believe has left me forever ... 
he will be killed, of course ...")"

Now me (Wendy):

I don't find Snape's absence in the graveyard to be problematic at all for
Voldemort. As you pointed out, in the graveyard, Voldemort says he
"believed" that Snape had left him for good - which means there was some
doubt in Voldemort's mind. I assume that when Snape goes off later that
evening (after the "If you are prepared" scene), Snape goes to Lucius
Malfoy (or perhaps to Voldemort himself, but I think it's more likely he
went to Malfoy), and explains that he knew he was being summoned, but he
couldn't leave Hogwarts at that time, partly because you can't just
apparate out of Hogwarts (it would have taken Snape a bit of time to get
off school grounds and such), but more importantly, Snape couldn't leave
because he was being watched by Dumbledore. Snape is useful to Voldemort
because of his relationship and proximity to Dumbledore, so I'm sure
Voldemort would accept this excuse. Even as a "faithful" Death Eater, Snape
must appear to be loyal to Dumbledore if he's to have any usefullness as a
spy. 

However, I don't think that Voldemort gave Snape a hug and made him a cup
of tea upon his return .  . . I assume that our man Snape has suffered
tortures for his past betrayal of Voldemort, and I also would not be
surprised to find that Voldemort will expect him to do something tangible
to prove his loyalty. (Not sure what that would be, or if it is perhaps
something that's already happened off-screen that we'll find out about
later. Or never. <g>). I also think it's possible that Voldemort doesn't
trust Snape at all, but it willing to pretend he does because as someone
pointed out recently (Pippin, I think), it is still useful to have a blown
spy who doesn't know he's blown in place, in order to pass mis-information
to Dumbledore if nothing else.

So, whether or not Snape is actually in Voldemort's "good graces," I don't
think it's unreasonable at all that Snape could have returned to Voldemort
and *not* been killed on sight. Voldemort has lots of reasons to keep Snape
alive, and since he now also has a perfectly good excuse to torture the guy
pretty much whenever he wants (you've been naughty, Severus - CRUCIO!),
well, that's just icing on Voldemort's cake, I'd say. <g>

I do think it's very likely that Snape has the most dangerous, unpleasant
and painful job in all of the wizarding world at this time. No wonder he's
a bit stroppy now and again. ;-)

Cheers!
Wendy