Snape and Lucius Malfoy (Was:More Snape conundrums...)

[bookraptor11]

No: HPFGUIDX 71944

> Allie asked (about Snape):

> > - Similarly, WHY is he still friends with Lucius?

and Kai replied (snipping):
Also, if Snape is
truly a spy, then it would be in the best interest of the Order for
 him to maintain ties to Lucius. Either way, their seemingly good
 relationship now implies to me that Lucius probably didn't know     
about Snape's role as double agent during Voldemort's first rise. 
Unless Lucius too is playing a complicated game.

Donna:
I've read a lot of posts wondering how Snape could return to 
Voldemort without being killed, and posts that offer theories that 
Snape goes to Lucius instead and fools him into believing Snape was 
working as a double agent for Voldemort. Snape either continues 
spying now using info he tricks out of Lucius, or he gets Lucius to 
convince Voldemort to restore him to V's good graces and is spying 
directly as a DE again. I have a theory that Snape is using Lucius in 
a more complicated way.

I see Malfoy as much more interested in what's best for Malfoy than 
interested in either side.  He may have joined Voldemort because V 
shared his purist beliefs, promised Malfoy power, was too powerful to 
resist, or Malfoy was hoping to be nearby when V learned the secret 
of immortality so that he could kill V before he could use this and 
steal immortality for himself. Any or all combinations of the above. 

He also realized he'd need a plan if V was defeated, and decided that 
simplest was best.  He would claim he'd been under the imperius curse 
and brazen it out. Of course his old family name and connections (and 
old family money) would help. We know this worked, he walked because  
Dumbledore and the MOM couldn't prove he was acting of his own free 
will.

Now Voldemort is back and Lucius is looking to play both sides. Enter 
Snape who visits him (that errand at the end of GOF). He might have 
said something like: "Now the Dark Lord is back and is not very 
pleased with me. I didn't desert him, I was spying on Dumbledore and 
feeding him minor information on V's plans to make him trust me. I've 
stayed close to him all these years and have information that you can 
pass on to Lord Voldemort to show my good faith."

Malfoy can believe this or not; it's more important that he buys what 
Snape says next. "I can't get Dumbledore to mention anything about 
the prophecy, but it's occured to me that when there are two factions 
warring, those who come out on top are those who can convince each 
side that they are on their side. Perhaps we can work together. You 
pass my info to the Dark Lord, try to get him to take me back, and I 
in turn will work on Dumbledore. I will tell him that you went back 
to V out of fear but you're disgusted and are willing to turn double 
agent, passing anything you learn through me. Hopefully, no matter 
which side wins we'll both be alive when one of us will need to vouch 
for the other. If you try to claim the imperius curse again, well 
that's wearing a little thin by now, don't you think?"

This gives Malfoy a vested interest in keeping Snape alive, and 
allows Snape to get information for the Order either through Malfoy 
or directly as reinstated Snape. It might also explain why the 
DE's went a little easy on the kids in the DOM; Malfoy was leading 
them. Someday it might be very important evidence that he was working 
for Dumbledore and tried his best to shed as little blood as 
possible.  If he hadn't been captured he could have explained his 
lack of ruthlessness to V by saying he didn't want to alienate 
purebloods who were still undecided by killing pureblood children.

The best part of this is that it works whether you believe Snape is 
truly working for good (only passing minor info that's been cleared 
by D),  semi-evil Snape who, like Lucius, is only 
interested in his own survival though would prefer Voldemort dead, 
and evil Snape, who has rejoined V and has no intention of passing 
anything significant on to D.

Donna
trying to think like a Slytherin and apologising if anyone has 
already posted a similar theory. I tried to check any post that 
mentioned Lucius Malfoy.