Snape as baddie/Snape in the foe glass/Snape's Duty for the Order

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 111537

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Magda Grantwich 
<mgrantwich at y...> wrote:
> 
> As for what Snape is doing for the Order this time out, I really
> don't think he's a spy again.  At least not the way he was the 
first time.  There are way too many people - including six 
Hogwarts students - who know about it, for one thing.  And I don't 
believe he has been in Voldemort's presence since he was 
harassing Quirrell in PS/SS.  Whatever Snape is doing, it 
probably involves some magic we haven't seen before (there's 
always at least one new magic technique introduced in every 
book).<

Six? Unless I'm missing something, only Harry, Ron and 
Hermione know that Snape was a spy before. Fred,George and 
Ginny know that he's doing something for the Order, but they 
don't know what it is. Only Harry has been told that it's Snape's 
present job to find out what Voldemort is telling his Death Eaters.

 I wonder, could the "Snape hasn't returned to Voldemort 
because Voldemort would have killed him" theorists  explain 
how staying out of Voldemort's  presence would protect Snape? 

Defectors are murdered -- no exceptions. Voldemort might not 
want to risk going after Snape in person, but now that he's 
returned, Voldemort has plenty of people to do his killing for him. 
How could it be safe for Snape to associate with Lucius Malfoy, 
for example? 

The way I see it, the only way Snape is alive is because he *has* 
returned to Voldemort.  He must have convinced his Master that 
he only took the teaching post at Hogwarts so that he would be 
well placed to aid Lord Voldemort on his inevitable return. It was 
in playing this role that he defended Harry and tried to expose 
Quirrell.

After all, how could he think Dumbledore would have allowed his 
precious Potter to do such obviously dangerous things: play 
Quidditch in his first year,  wander around the school after hours, 
not to mention sending him into the Forbidden Forest with only 
that half-giant oaf for protection? Obviously it was all for show --a 
test to see who could be trusted.  And Snape has now passed 
with Outstanding in all subjects.

 I'm sure Voldemort levelled a crucio or two at Snape for his 
obtuseness in the matter...but in the end, there's a vacancy for 
"faithful servant at Hogwarts" and Snape is an offer Voldie can't 
refuse. 

Perhaps Snape has convinced Voldemort that  Dumbledore's 
defense of Snape during Karkaroff's hearing was a double bluff, 
designed to protect his *real* spy, Karkaroff, from DE vengeance. 
"And, now, consider the beauty of it, master, the old fool thinks 
he's sent  me here to spy on you for him! Mwahahaha!"

Pippin
who sincerely hopes Igor has found a deep dark hole to hide in