Did Snape work for Dumbledore from Day One?

[Barry Arrowsmith]

No: HPFGUIDX 118962

Good post.
I do love devious thinking.

Interesting......
Ineffable Dumbledore and Snape behind the mask.

There's no doubt that DD and SS are partners, the difficulty is in 
determining in what enterprises, to what depth, for how long - and why.

Is it a marriage of convenience, "my enemy's enemy is my friend" sort 
of arrangement? Or is it deeper and wider? Mostly I've been content 
with theorising that something BANGy turned Snape away from Voldy (BTW 
- BANG usually means some sort of sudden life changing event) and also 
that he's in league with DD over Harry. The best double act in the 
business - a "nice cop/nasty cop" duo and that part of Snape's job is 
to keep a close eye on Harry and keep him out of trouble if possible. 
Seemingly dogging Harry's footsteps to catch him out is just a 
plausible excuse that Harry will accept without question.

But this is the first time I've been asked to consider that it 
stretches as far back as you suggest. Hmm. Not so sure about this.

Like many I regard the 'Prank' as a defining moment in Snape's 
development - possibly the single most important event that 
may/could/did push him towards Voldy. Though even here there's a 
temptation to become too clever for one's own good, to produce too many 
  alternative explanations. Is it that he wanted revenge on 'Gryffindor' 
types - "birds of a feather" sort of thing; on James and Sirius *as 
individuals* no  matter who or what they were affiliated with; or 
against a member(s) of a boodline (the Blacks and maybe the Potters -  
who let's face it are a total enigma as a family) that was notorious 
for it's anti-social attitudes and patronising indifference to others - 
"a pox on all your tribe". Some may think  this last is stretching 
things - but isn't that the rationale behind the belief that Snape 
hates Harry? That it's because he's the son of  his father?

Against this is the fact that the 'Prank' was not the centre-piece of 
"Snape's Worst Memory"; instead we're presented with a piece of teenage 
embarrassment that while no doubt is uncomfortable to recall, would be 
expected to pale into insignificance when compared to the 'Prank' with 
it's (apparent) non-repercussions or with what may have happened whilst 
he was among the DEs and Voldy. The possibility that Snape's wounds 
could be salved by Emollient!DD or by maybe an understanding developing 
between the two was pretty far down the list. Ah well;  a re-assessment 
  can't hurt.

Of course, it may  be possible to argue that being "instructed to 
forget it" may have involved some sort of magical enforcement, emplaced 
until the possibility of troublesome sequelae was over. But  that's 
unlikely; my reading of Snape's character would never allow him to 
forgive something like that.

Damn. Once again we're reduced to saying "if we knew what happened 
then, we'd have a better chance of deducing what's going on here." 
Mustn't complain though, just think how boring it would be if 
everything was open and above board.

The occlumency/legillimency interplay aspects of the pair has a high 
probability IMO. The only two apart from Voldy that seem to have 
mastered the skills - why shouldn't they use it between themselves? 
Could be used in other situations, too.
Snape's 'spying' may include dipping into Malfoy's mind to find out 
what's new on the DE front. Plus DD fixing Harry with his beady eye - 
"Are you sure there's nothing you want to tell me, Harry?"  Ha! The 
perfect way to get Harry to bring something to the forefront of his 
mind.

Still, thanks for providing food for thought.
Need to ponder, to brood on consequences and ramifications if you're 
right.
That's no hardship.

Kneasy