What does Lucius (and Voldemort) really know about Spy!Snape?

[Mandy]

No: HPFGUIDX 101568

> Stefanie wrote:
> One little problem here -- 
> ". . . Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather 
> than Hogwarts, you know, He knows the headmaster, you see...Well, 
> you know his opinion of Dumbledore - the man's such a Mudblood-
> lover - and Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of riffraff." 
(Draco, 
> GoF 11)
 Granted, if you want to disregard this, it *could* be passed off as 
> Draco merely boasting...but Lucius has been shown to have a long 
arm when it comes to influence. If Karkaroff and Lucius are still 
> friendly (and obviously Karkaroff knows about Snape's 
> spyhood...being there and all) one would have to assume that this 
> either never came up in their conversations <snip> or it *has* come 
up and consequently, Lucius knows about Snape. (We haven't exactly 
been given precedence of Karkaroff keeping mum about things) I'm 
inclined to believe that, at the least, Lucius may know, or Snape's 
spyhood is one of those buzzing things that "no one is supposed to 
know about." 

Mandy here:
I think your talking about a few different things here.  Firstly your 
assuming all the DE talk freely amongst themselves about who's doing 
what, where and when.  That is a big mistake.  That's not to say they 
won't try to find out as much about each other as possible, but any 
one of the DE would be stupid to talk too freely to another for fear 
of getting set up.  Karkaroff is a coward and absolutely terrified 
about LV coming back, he is desperate to find out anything he can 
from anyone.  I, for one, doubt Lucius Malfoy would have anything to 
do with Karkaroff from the moment he noticed the Dark Mark was coming 
back if Lucius knows anything about Karkarkoff treachery.   Karkaroff 
may have been useful as headmaster of Durmstrang, but he is a 
liability for anything to do with LV. 

Snape is a different story.  You make the comment `and obviously 
Karkaroff knows about Snape's spyhood...being there and all'.  I say 
not necessarily.  Karkaroff could believe that Snape is spying on DD 
for LV, but not the other way around.  Karkaroff has proved himself a 
traitor after the first war; it would be disastrous for Snape to have 
Karkaroff know he (Snape) is spying on LV for DD.  Karkaroff goes to 
Snape for help when he feels the Dark Mark burning as he believes 
Snape is still in the fold.  I doubt, knowing what a coward Karkaroff 
is, he could ever imagine anyone turning spy on LV and Snape would 
want to keep it that way.  The fewer who know the better.


> Stefanie wrote:
> Now we also know from numerous citations that Snape and Lucius are 
> on good relations. If Lucius knows that Snape is a spy, why on 
EARTH would he still be friendly with Snape.


Mandy again:
Information.  Lucius would want to be on the recieving end of any 
information Snape could have about DD and LV. Information is power.  
There are many on this site who believe that Lucius is Snape's point 
man for LV.  That for the last 15 years, before LV return, Snape has 
been building a relationship with Lucius Malfoy waiting for LV return 
which both DD and Snape knew would happen one day.  When it did 
happen, in GoF, DD asked Snape 'was he ready', Snape replied 'yes.'  
Ready for what?  His return to LV with a watertight excuse and plenty 
of information about DD to sweeten LV.  As Lucius was quickly back in 
LV inner circle it seems likely that Snape would use him to lead him 
back into the fold. 

Mandy