About Sirius, Wormtail, Snape, Draco

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 105364


Amey wrote:

> And one more point to ponder about Snape... he knew somebody close
to Potters was passing information, there were only 3 persons really
close to them.. its only a matter of raising their sleeve... all this
doesn't speak highly of his spying abilities. Because we know he was
spying for DD for a long time. Or was he also blinded by the fact that
it was James and Sirius who were in danger? He would have loved all of
them killed and any one of them as spy for LV would be his idea for
christmas present. I don't think PP figured in his revenge anywhere.
PP seems only a peripheral figure in the rivalry.  

Carol responds:
Snape wasn't spying on the Marauders. In fact, Sirius apparently lost
track of him after they left school. He had no idea that Snape had
been a DE or was teaching at Hogwarts, which IMO happened at the
beginning of term the year that the Potters were killed (September 1;
they were killed on October 31). Presumably Snape lost track of him
and James as well. In any case, Snape wasn't spying on his former
schoolmates; he was spying on LV and the Death Eaters, to all
appearances still one of them. So his not knowing who the spy/traitor
was says nothing about his own abilities as a spy. Most likely LV kept
Peter's identity a secret from all but his most trusted DEs. Lucius
and Bellatrix may have known, but not someone as young and new to the
group as Snape (who also didn't know that three of the Marauders were
animagi). 

Regarding rolling up their sleeves: the MoM seems oddly ignorant of
the Dark Mark, which would be a dead giveaway--and would have proven
Sirius innocent. Fudge seems shocked and appalled when Snape (with
admirable courage and determination) reveals his. The marks must have
become nearly invisible after LV was vaporized. (People have presented
theories on this but we haven't reached a consensus.)

Carol