A random thought on the missing Death Eater

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 60217

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "mmemalkin" <mmemalkin at y...> wrote:
>
>  
> ...wasn't Voldemort under the turban when Snape was chastising 
> Quirrell about his loyalties?  ...figured ... Voldemort knows he has 
> switched sides, and was referring to Snape in the graveyard scene in 
> GoF when he says one of his followers has left him and will be killed. 
> If Dumbledore was sending Snape to spy on the DE's, then I guess a
slow death by 
> torture could fit the "horrible to write" description... 
> 
> ~Diane
> Eschewing obfuscation 
> >

bboy_mn:

Point 1:
When Voldemort via Quirrel encountered Snape in SS/PS, Snape was not
aware that Voldemort was there, so Snape had no reason to support
Quirrel's action. From Snape's perspective, there is no connection
between Snape's loyalties and Quirrel's attempt to steal the
Philosopher's Stone. Snape is just doing his job and maintaining his
cover.

Certainly, Voldemort can't blame Snape for something Snape was
completely unaware of. It's also reasonably easy to understand that
Voldemort would not reveal himself. Since Snape is working for
Dumbledore, his loyalties are in unknown or at least uncertain. So
Voldemort probably thought that the fewer people who knew of his
presents the better. Once he had the Stone then there would be plenty
of time to test people's loyalties.

The point is that Snape's action in SS/PS are in no way a reflection
of his loyalties to Voldemort.

Point 1:
The exact quote with my emphasis added is-
"One, who I BELIEVE has left me forever...he will be killed, of course..."

When Voldemort says 'I believe...' he is allowing for or expressing an
element of doubt. He knows Karkarov is to cowardly to return. He knows
Crouch!Moody remains his most faithful servant. But he's not quite
sure what to make of Snape. It seems as though Snape might have left
Voldemort forever, but only time will tell for sure.

I'm a believer in the Snape as a Triple Agent Theory. Snape was
working for Voldemort when he pretended to go good and joined
Dumbledore as a spy against Voldemort when in reality he was still
working for Voldemort. At least, that's Voldemort's perspective. In
reality, Snape had genuinely joined Dumbledore side and was only
pretending to spy for Voldemort. 

A convoluted as that is, from Voldemort's perspective, Snape is
suppose to be pretending to be a good guy, but at this point,
Voldemort doesn't know if Snape is pretending or not. Hence, the
element of doubt. This also gives Snape a way to get back into
Voldemort's good graces, although I suspect it will be a very painful
re-entry into those good graces. 

Once Snape is back in, he can continue his role pretenting to work
with Dumbledore while pretending to spying for Voldemort. There is one
problem with being a double, or triple or whatever agent, sooner or
later you have to provide some worthwhile information. To maintain his
cover, Snape will have to reveal valid useful information against
Dumbledore.

The only problem with this idea is that it seems to be what JKR wants
us to believe, just like she lead us to believe that Scabbers was an
old rat, and Sirius was a insane, deadly, dangerous criminal. 

Just a thought.

bboy_mn