Snape as a Spy

[mnaper2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 91854

RTB wrote:
> LV says that one of his Death Eaters is too cowardly to return 
> (Karkaroff).  He also says that he fears that one has left him for 
> good.  Up to now I and I know many others theorize that he is 
> referring to Snape.  I think that it is odd that Snape says in the 
> Fifth book while responding to Harry, that it is his job to spy for 
> the Order.  There seems to be a contradiction.  I was thinking 
> about it and in the fifth book Bagman was missing.  He could be the 
> Death Eater that would never come back.  He was already accused of 
> being a DE by Karkaroff. This would make it possible for Snape to 
> be a spy for the order without LV wanting to kill him.


Not sure about the Bagman theory, but I sort of think Snape was the 
one "too cowardly" to return who would be punished.  We all assume 
that Voldie KNEW Karakoff left because he was afraid.  That's what 
the readers know b/c Karakoff told Snape that, but does Voldie know 
it?  Voldie may have such a link to his DE that he feels or senses 
these motivations, but what if he doesn't?  What if all he knew was 
Karakoff had fled Hogwarts and Snape didn't.  From Voldie's POV, it 
would probably seem like Karakoff had left him forever, while it 
would seem like Snape just didn't try to sneak away.

That would also explain how Snape is able to continue to spy and 
wasn't killed.  He returned to Voldie after the tournament, took his 
punishment, and now is spying.  

The other option, in my mind, is that Voldie knows or suspects Snape 
is a spy and is simply waiting for a particular moment to extract his 
revenge.  There's no real evidence of that at this point - just 
another possible explanation of how Snape could be the one who "left 
forever" and not be dead at this point.

mnaper