Snape at Goodric's Hollow

[drliss at comcast.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 120476

Sherry:
If this was the case, then it seems Snape would have known that Peter was
the traitor, and it would make his treatment of Sirius in POA despicable,
planning to send an innocent man to be kissed by the dementors?  Remember,
Snape couldn't have known where the potters were unless the secret keeper
revealed it.  If he knew they were in danger, and he knew where they were,
then he knew Peter was the spy.  Even for those who ascribe to the ESE
Sirius theory--which I do not--Snape has never said anything to indicate he
knows it from personal knowledge.  My mixed feelings about Snape would make
me love to have him be the one trying to warn the Potters, but I just don't
see how he could have.  if you can, please clarify

Lissa:

Actually, this theory hit me like a ton of bricks and even if it's NOT JKR posting, it strikes me as RIGHT.

In GoF, we learn that the Death Eaters wear masks, so they don't even know who is in the ranks.  If Pettigrew knew Snape was in the Death Eaters (recognizable by voice?), then he probably avoided him as much as possible, based solely on dislike and paranoia.  Snape may not have paid any attention to Pettigrew, either.

When Pettigrew made his report to Voldie, he was likely in full Death Eater garb.  Snape may have heard it (or overheard it) then, or had the information passed on to him by another Death Eater.  (How you could confuse Pettigrew for Black still confuses me, given that Peter seems to be much shorter and pudgier, but hey.)  But in PoA, Snape still seems to believe that Sirius is the spy, when he yells at Harry that he'll die like his father, arrogant and believing in Black.  (Is that PoA?)

Snape then runs to the Potters, tries to explain.  The bit about James not believing him rings incredibly true to me- it sounds too realistic and fits JKR's themes too well.  (Which is sad from Lupin's pov, because it does mean that James probably believed him to be the spy up until the minute of his death.  But we knew that anyway.)  Voldemort arrives, and Snape pretends that he's still on Voldie's side, or openly defies him and Voldie says he'll deal with him later.  Snape is the one who orders Lily to step aside.  Etc.

Because Dumbledore says that Black was the Secret Keeper, and then the events that occur the next day, Snape believes it.  Heck- Remus believes it, so why shouldn't Snape?  Dumbleodore's word is law.  So when Sirius escapes, Snape still does believe the true spy has escaped.  

That would definitely explain why Snape hates Harry (I would too, and frankly, would think that Snape is pretty justified in his hatred of James!), and why Dumbledore trusts him completely.  (He'd HAVE to truly have changed to want to save James, of all people.)

Lissa

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