A question

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 91139

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "katii walls"
<katiilovesmud at h...> wrote:
> Hi everyone,
> 
> Sorry, this is my first post and I haven't been around long, so this
has 
> probably already been discussed in detail and I can't find it on my
slow uni 
> computer!

Annemehr:
Don't worry.  I have trouble finding stuff with my faster one!  :)

Katii:
> 
> I have been re-reading PS and i was thinking about Snape.  We know
from OotP 
> that Snape has gone back to Voldemort and is acting as a spy for the
Order, 
> but I am wondering why Voldemort would ever accept him back into the
fold.

Annemehr:
Actually, I don't think we can say we *know* that Snape has gone back
to Voldemort.  Other possibilities are that his only contact is with
Lucius, or that he's doing something completely different to gain
information (or whatever it is that he reports on to the Order).  But,
yes, many of the fans do think he's spying on Voldemort directly.

Katii:
> 
> In PS, Voldemort is sharing Quirrell's body, and sees everything
that he 
> does, *presumably*[...].  Voldemort knows 
> Harry is lying about what he sees in the Mirror of Erised.  In the
same way, 
> I assume that Voldemort knows that Snape was very much against the
idea of 
> Quirrell stealing the Philosophers' Stone for his master.  I have no
doubt 
> that Voldemort heard Snape asking about Quirrell's "loyalties".  Surely 
> Voldemort knew then that Snape was on the other side?
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Katii

Annemehr:
If Voldemort has accepted Snape back as a DE, I think this must be the
explanation:

In PS/SS, Voldemort did not reveal his presence to *anyone.*  He was
working through Quirrell alone because Voldemort was in such a
vulnerable state.  He was being extremely secretive until he obtained
the Stone and got his body back.  Voldemort would not take the chance
that Snape's long stay with Dumbledore had indeed turned Snape away
from Voldemort.  Because of this, he is aware that Snape may not know
who Quirrell was working for.

Another point in Snape's favor (from the point of view of Voldemort)
is that Snape, as a presumed DE, had an *extremely* valuable position
in Dumbledore's inner circle.  Snape can't risk exposing himself to
Dumbledore and losing that advantage, so he has to act as Dumbledore
would expect.  Snape would also not want the philosopher's stone in
the possession of just *anyone* (which would be very bad for Voldemort
himself), and so could act in all sincerity giving Voldemort no lies
or deception to detect on his part.  Voldemort would know that Snape
would have to act as he did until Voldemort was able to reveal himself.

More troubling for Snape trying to pass as a loyal DE would be what
Pettigrew could tell Voldemort about what happened in the Shrieking
Shack.  I looks bad that Snape tried very hard to capture the supposed
DE Sirius Black.  Perhaps this along with, possibly, some bad reports
of him from Crouch!Moody in GoF, could make Voldemort believe Snape
had betrayed him.  On the other hand, I'd bet Snape could talk his way
out of the Shrieking Shack suspicions by saying that what he heard
before being knocked out was convincing him that Pettigrew was there
and that Snape was going to try to help him escape.

In other words, I think things are "fuzzy" enough that it is possible
to believe that Snape could convince Voldemort that he's still a loyal
DE.  Personally, I'm guessing that the mission Dumbledore sent Snape
on at the end of GoF was something different, but that's just a matter
of personal opinion!

Annemehr