Snape the spy

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 88215

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "zihav" <lynch at a...> wrote:
Tom: "Snape can't possibly be the *direct* spy, but I think he is 
working through an intermediary. If LV catches the intermediary then 
Snape will get blamed and not the real spy. I think LV *knows* he 
turned over to the good guys."

I agree. In Muggle espionage terms, Snape is completely "blown" and 
couldn't possibly be exposed again. He'd be taken up at once and 
crucio'd to death. So what good is he?

Tom: "My theory on who the real spy is: Narcissa Malfoy. The reason 
she turned is when her son was born (Draco) she didn't want him 
growing up in a world ruled by LV. She gets the information from her 
husband (unknown to him that she has turned to spy for the Order) and 
passes it on to Snape for the Order. This is the reason Snape is 
friends with the Malfoys. It has been pointed out that Kreacher went 
to her, but even DD said that he couldn't pass on any Order 
information and she would have assume that Harry was safe at  
Hogwarts. 

Your hypothesis is plausible and fits what we know. I can imagine 
Narcissa  being repelled at the same future for her son that her 
husband has; he may be cruel to her and this is her revenge.

If your hypothesis is right then there's a problem: has her 
usefulness destroyed because Lucius is now in lockup?  If Lucius 
escapes he'll have to go underground; will she have contact with him?
> 
Tom: "I don't buy the double agent stuff. For one thing Snape has 
only been at Hogwarts for 14 years. This is in the OOTP when Umbridge 
is inspecting his class and asks about the DA post and how long he 
has been at Hogwarts. I think Snape is at Hogwarts for his own 
protection."

Likely.  It's DD that keeps Snape straight.  The protection is as 
much from himself as from the newly revived DE's.

Jim Ferer