Occlumency + Spy Snape

junediamanti june.diamanti at blueyonder.co.uk
Fri Jan 23 15:13:14 UTC 2004


No: HPFGUIDX 89458

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, electrogirl 
<jennalei2003 at y...>
> wrote:
> > ...edited...
> > 
>> 
> 
> bboy_mn:
> 
> Well, it won't come as a suprise to anyone, but I have a theory 
about
> this, although I've posted it many times, so I'll try and stick to 
the
> short version.
> 
> I believe many years ago before Voldemort's first defeat, Voldmort
> sent Snape as a Spy to join Dumbledore. So any signs that Snape is
> working with Dumbledore are exactly what Voldemort expects to see.

June:

The problem with that idea is that it is somewhat damaged by Snape's 
assertion to Umbridge in OOP that he has been a teacher at Hogwarts 
for 14 years.  Counting backwards that means he was appointed after 
Voldemort's fall (around about a year after).  This does not 
necessarily preclude Snape having some kind of earlier association 
with Dumbledore that Voldemort engineered, but that has not yet been 
revealed or hinted at by canon.


Steve: 
> What Voldemort doesn't know is that Snape really has gone over to 
the
> good side and is truly working for Dumbledore. Or at least, that is
> what we are being lead to believe.
> 
> I can't see any other way that Voldemort or the Death Eaters would
> continue to associate with Snape, or for that matter, even allow 
Snape
> to continue to live. The only explanation I can come up with that
> seems likely is that Voldemort sent Snape to join Dumbledore, so
> Voldemort would have a trusted spy in Dumbledore's camp.

June:
Snape may well be doing the classic double-double routine, trading 
one set of information for another, or misinforming one of the sides 
he is working for, either at the behest of whichever master DOES 
command his true loyalty, or under some agenda of his own - I 
personally believe this is the case, and that Snape is furthering his 
own agenda.  That might, of course, serve the greater good.

Steve:
> Naturally, to be a spy and be accepted by Dumbledore, Snape would 
have
> to bring Dumbledore some pretty juicy information about the Death
> Eater activities, and Snape, to stay in good graces with Voldemort,
> would have to provide some valuable information about Dumbledore. 
With
> Snape now working as a double agent, spying for both sides, each 
side
> has to accept some degree of betrayal in order for Snape to maintain
> his cover.

June:
I go with the rather bald assertion of Dumbledore in OOP "I trust 
Severus Snape" because it is so very bald, uncompromising, and he 
does not even seem to feel that he has to justify that belief in any 
way.  That signifies to me unshakeable and indeed, unqualified trust.

There obviously is a reason behind this, and that is equally 
obviously (to me) going to be a very important piece of backstory or 
plot. 

> 
> Now the question becomes, which side is Snape REALLY working for?
> Typically Double Agent Spies ultimately are working for which ever
> side wins. In Snape's case, I believe he truly is working for the 
good
> side, but to maintain his cover, he may be compelled to do some
> terrible things before the series ends.
> 
> If someone can give me a better, and most important, a LIKELY
> explanation other than my own, I'd like to hear it.

Snape for Snape.  For reasons of revenge perhaps, a Dark Lord who 
failed to deliver for the impoverished purebloods (perhaps...), some 
past injury (I won't list the possibles - we all know what they are), 
even a view that the Death Eaters are a bunch of hamfisted idiots 
(how many failed attempts to off the Potters and the Longbottoms?!) 
Outcome not necessarily disastrous for the side of good.  As long as 
good delivers the goods...

My thoughts. 

June





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