Snape's reaction to Harry's assumption that he is a spy

[saraquel_omphale]

No: HPFGUIDX 109115

<miranda_mcgonagall37 at y...> wrote:
> As a constant lurker, I haven't seen any recent discussions of this 
> moment between Harry and Snape, so I decided to post and see what 
> everyone else thinks.  I am curious about Snape's reaction to Harry 
> assuming that he is a DE spy in OotP.  What does this mean in 
> regards to Snape's work for the Order?
> 
> (page 521, Canadian Hardcover OotP):
> 
> "That is just as well, Potter," Snape said coldly, "because you are 
> neither special nor important, and it is not up to you to find out 
> what the Dark Lord is saying to his Death Eaters."
> "No - that's your job, isn't it?" Harry shot at him.
> He had not meant to say it; it had burst out of him in temper. For 
a 
> long moment they stared at each other, Harry convinced he had gone 
> too far. But there was a curious, almost satisfied expression on 
> Snape's face when he answered.
> "Yes, Potter," he said, his eyes glinting. "That is my job. Now, if 
> you are ready, we will start again.
> 
> Why would Snape be satisfied if Harry guessed right and he is a 
spy? 

Saraquel has always been intrigued by exactly what Snape does for 
TOotP:
I definitely don't think that Snape has any direct contact with 
Voldemort, too much is known about him (see recent threads about 
Quirrelmort for a start) for Voldemort to be tricked.  The passage 
which Nicole quotes is carefully worded, implying that Snape finds 
out what LV HAS SAID to his DEs, (and IMO particularly Lucius Malfoy) 
not what LV is doing.  Snape jumps when LM is mentioned in the 
hospital scene at the end of GoF.  I can't remember ever reading a 
scene which has both Snape and Malfoy in it, so we are never given 
insight into how they behave towards one another.  Snape could well 
be using legilimancy to read LMs mind, but that requires eye contact, 
so in order for this idea to work they must meet.  

Either they meet knowlingly, in which case we must find a reason -
Lucius could easily have a reason to hate Sirius, he is married to 
his sister, and as DEs they could have formed a bond with each other 
over their mutual hatred.  Or, Snape may have some hold over Lucius, 
which I think less likely as Snape really piles it on thick with 
Draco and would be more likely to treat Draco meanly in order to 
encourage LM to toe the line. 

Or they 'meet unknowingly', in which case Snape must use some sort of 
disguise.  Now there's a passage in GOF (p500 Uk pb) about Harry 
riding on the back of an eagle owl in his dream.  Draco's owl is an 
eagle owl.  This passage has always raised a question mark in my mind 
because it is unclear to me whether the eagle owl has been sent with 
a message by crouch jnr and lands in the chair to give the message to 
LV, or how I read it the first time, LV had possessed the owl to find 
out what was happening at Hogwarts and on landing in the chair 'turns 
back into' LV. this second interpretation would explain why Harry was 
flying on the back of the owl in the first place.

The owl frequently goes to and fro, this has been established right 
from the start.  Now if Snape was to possess the owl he would have 
access to the Malfoy's home and eye contact with Malfoy.

Hmm, sometimes I read posts and think, Oh pulease that's a bit far 
fetched.  But it's amazing how far one's imagination can take you:-)
Saraquel