Snape (Was: How is Snape doing it)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 89795

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "suehpfan" <stanleys at s...> wrote:
> Sue here.  As I was reading GOF for the umpteenth time it occured to 
> me that most people (like me) assume that the two missing DE's 
> Voldemort mentions are Snape and Karkarof, but what if they are not?  
> I don't have the books in front of me, but I know there was at least 
> one reference to the fact that none of the DE's knew who all of the 
> others were, and there must have been more than the few that 
> apparated into the grave yard.  I know that Snape's mark burned and 
> that he was to apparate immediately to the spot where Voldemort 
> called him, but it seems possible that there were other groups 
> meeting in other places to get instructions.
> 
> That would mean, of course, that Snape was not necessarily in 
> Voldemort's "inner circle".  Since Serius refered to him as "Malfoy's 
> lap dog" and he said himself it was his job to find out what other 
> DE's were doing, not Voldemort, it seems possible to me that his 
> working for both sides could be in a different context.  Since he 
> would only see Voldemort occassionally his need to hide his thoughts 
> would be tested less often.  Perhaps he needs only to fool Malfoy and 
> other DE's.  This would make working as a spy a bit less complicated 
> and the information he would need to share about DD less sensitive. 
> Snape could simply say the DD trusts him enough to give him a job but 
> gives him no other information.
> 
> If in fact the missing DE's are not Snape and Karkarof who could they 
> be?
> 
> Just thinking out loud.
> Sue

Carol:
I think the missing DEs are Karkaroff (who ran off like a coward) and
Snape (who couldn't have been in the graveyard for reasons I've stated
in other posts and whose loyalty LV has every reason to suspect
because of the Qiirrell matter. He wouldn't care whether Snape was
knowingly working against him; he was thwarting Quirrell and loyal to
DD, which would be enough to condemn him in LV's less than merciful
view). I also think that Snape *chose* to remain at Hogwarts rather
than try to find a way to obey the summons, based on his words to
Karkaroff, but that the inability to apparate from Hogwarts provided
him with a convenient excuse that he could pass on to Lucius Malfoy.

Notice that LV did not name the one he believes has left them forever
and must be killed (or the one who was cowardly and must be
punished--I forget the exact words). The DEs in the graveyard,
including Lucius Malfoy, may have their suspicions, but they don't
know for certain who the "traitors" are unless LV chooses to tell them
at a later date. (Possibly he's sent some of those who weren't in the
MoM after Karkaroff but we don't know that.) Anyway, I agree with you
that Snape is obtaining his information through Lucius Malfoy and
possibly a few other DEs he knew in school and not through Voldemort
directly. And Voldemort is, I think, pretending to believe Snape's
excuse (as presented by Malfoy) in hopes of learning useful
information about Hogwarts from Snape via Malfoy. 

In other words, I'm arguing that Snape couldn't have been in the
graveyard and must be the one who "has left us forever," but I agree
with you that he's dealing primarily with Malfoy and not with LV
directly. But with Malfoy in Azkaban, that situation has to change,
and Snape's danger is almost certain to increase in the next two
books. It will be interesting to see his interactions with Draco and
the other sons of Death Eaters in Book 6. . . .

Carol