Snape as past/future spy WAS Re: Question about Snape and Quirrell

[Steve <bboy_mn@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 49690

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "isiscolo <isis at w...>"
<isis at w...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "marephraim <htfulcher at c...>" 
> <htfulcher at c...> wrote:
> [snip snip]

> > marephraim"
> > On the other hand.... This whole exchange between Snape and 
> > Quirrell leads to other questions that bear on the remaining 
> > books: Snape argues with Quirrell but if he is to later (OoP, 
> > etc.) play  double-agent for Dumbledore, he must be careful 
> > to appear interested in the stone only for himself, and not 
> > out of loyalty to Dumbledore. 
-end this part-

> isiscolo:
> 
> Why, oh why, does just about everyone assume that Snape *will
> be* a spy in later books?  I mean, is there some indication
> of this (other than the mysterious task mentioned at the end
> of GoF), or has JKR dropped hints?
> -end this part-

bboy_mn:
Got a better explaination? What else is Snape going to do? The only
way I can see him being effective in the fight against Voldemort is to
get back in VOldemort's good graces. If not that then what?
-bboy_Mn -end this part-

> isiscolo continues:
> 
> I read Lord V's "one who has left me forever" comment to mean
> that he *knows* that Snape is no longer a DE.  
> -end this part-

bboy_mn:
It's common knowledge that Snape got out of being prosecuted as a
Death Eater by claiming with the backing of Dumbledore that he was a
spy. All the other Death Eater who got out of trouble, all had their
own lies as excuses for getting out of trouble. They don't believe
Snape was a spy any more that Snape believes that Malfoy was bewitched.

The only options I can see, is that Snape goes back to Voldemort sucks
up a bit, and convinces Voldie that he, Snape, was a double agent
essentially giving genuine but worthless information to Dumbledore
while bringing much more valuable information back to Voldie. If
that's not what he's going to do, then what? What good is he in the
fight, if he's not a spy?

-bboy_mn -end this part-


> > marephraim: (?)
> > >Was he protecting the Stone as a 'lone ranger' or as part of 
> > >Dumbledore's team? Will Book Five *ever* reach the publishers?
> > >-end this part-

> isiscolo continues:
> 
> I think that he was working for the Good Guys and not 
> hiding it from Q and V.  I just don't see how V could
> possibly still believe Snape to be on his side.
> 
> I.

bboy_mn:
Snape has no way of knowing that Quirrel was working with or for
Voldemort. I guess it's possible that Quirrel told Snape but I doubt
it. I think the story would have gone much differently if Snape knew
Voldemort was in the castle.

So, from Snape perspective, all he was doing was keeping the stone
away from an marginally competent and obviously corrupt wizard like
Quirrel. I imagine the wizard world is full of greedy people who would
love to get their hands on the Stone. But the alchemist have closely
guard it the Stone and it's secrets for Millenium. Those who
understand it power, and it's power to corrupt; guard it very closely.
Only a very priviledge enlightened few are allowed to know the secret,
and that really how it should be.

So, Snape was not acting against Voldemort. He was not conciously
choosing Dumbledore over Voldemort. He was simply guarding a very
dangerous magical artifact from a very dangerous wizard like Quirrel.

Of course, it may mean enduring the Cruciatus Curse a few times as
penance, but I doubt that Voldie will kill him for that one transgression.

just a few thoughts.

bboy_mn