Snape responsible?

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 107914

> Pippin:
> > If Hogwarts teachers could be sacked mid-year without 
evidence of misconduct,  Umbridge would have done it. What 
evidence did  they have? Snape did not see Quirrell on his way to 
the 3rd floor  corridor. He could not prove that Quirrell was hexing 
the broom.  Harry and Hermione told Hagrid they thought 
*Snape* had done it. Raising the issue would have got Snape 
sacked, not Quirrell.
> 
> 
> SSSusan:
> Snape may not have had proof about Quirrell, but he had 
suspicions; otherwise the "where your loyalties lie" speech 
wouldn't have  happened.  I'm just asking why Snape went SOLO 
in his plan to watch  over Quirrell.  Why didn't he tell DD all this?
 
Or do you think DD  *did* know about Snape's concerns and 
didn't do any investigating?<

Pippin:

I see I didn't make myself clear. I do think Dumbledore knew 
about Snape's concerns, and did investigate, did protect Harry, 
but didn't turn up anything that would convince the Ministry or the 
Board of Governors.

   Do you think it was an accident that Firenze turned up 
just in time to save Harry in the forest? Every time Harry goes into 
the forest he has the feeling he's being watched...why do you 
think that is? 

 As far as we know Quirrell did not make another attempt on 
Harry's life  or try to steal the stone again until the end of term,
so there was no opportunity to get evidence against him. 
Dumbledore seems to have known about Harry's scar hurting 
but that wouldn't prove anything--at least it didn't in GoF.

 SSSusan:
> Why would DD have believed what H/R/H *thought*, rather than 
what  Snape *said*?  And why wouldn't Snape have just told the 
truth: that  Quirrel (or *someone*, if he was not sure it was Q.) 
was hexing  Harry's broom?  I can't imagine that DD would doubt 
Snape.  After  all, he's always saying, "I trust Severus Snape."<

Pippin:
The question is not whether DD would believe Snape over Harry 
and Hermione but whether anyone else would. The BoG is 
under the sway of Lucius Malfoy at this point in the story. Do you 
really think a formal investigation would have turned out in any 
desirable way? I can see Lucius suavely offering to protect the 
Stone in Malfoy Manor, can't you?

Pippin