JKR chat--Snape the coward or the one left forever?

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 92284

justcarol wrote:
> > > and the fansites getting the "one who won't return" correct--
> > > IMO has to be Snape (as perceived by LV at the time of the 
> > > graveyard scene) and the coward has to be Karkaroff.
 
Susan:
> > Not necessarily, I don't think, Carol.  Why couldn't Snape be 
> > the coward who would be punished?  This could explain why there 
> > hasn't been a rift between Snape & the Malfoys.  If Lucius 
> > believed Snape was the betrayer who'd left forever, he'd sever 
> > ties with Snape, wouldn't he?  If, however, Lucius believed 
> > Snape was the coward who'd be dealt with, this could still fit.  
> > Sevvie goes back to Voldy [he goes SOMEWHERE at the end of GoF], 
> > takes his punishment, and continues on pretending to be a DE 
> > while spying for DD.  The one who's left Voldy forever could 
> > then easily be Karkaroff or Bagman, if in fact Bagman is a DE.
 
Carol:
> I don't think Snape has ever behaved in a cowardly manner, and LV
> probably knows him well enough to understand that. No, Snape can't 
> be mistaken for a coward even by his enemies. LV knows he's at 
> Hogwarts and knows he didn't flee.

**********************

Susan:
But what I meant, above, was that Snape didn't COME to the graveyard 
when the dark mark called.  *That's* what I was assuming Voldy meant 
by being cowardly.  I wasn't thinking of a long history of Snape's 
being cowardly--just thinking of this as Voldy's reaction to who 
didn't show that night.

Carol:
> I don't think Lucius Malfoy believes Snape has left forever, nor 
> would he think that Snape is a coward. IMO Snape simply explained 
> to him that he couldn't apparate from Hogwarts or arouse DD's 
> suspicions by leaving the Tri-Wizard Tournament to appear in the 
> graveyard, and Malfoy passed that explanation on to LV, who was 
> either persuaded or pretended to be persuaded because he thought 
> that continued communication between Snape and Malfoy could be 
> useful. Snape, being Snape, could probably persuade them both.

Susan:  This is definitely a possibility, Carol; I just wanted to 
explain what I meant with the "cowardly" possibility.  *Either* way, 
I can't wait to find out!  ;-)

Siriusly Snapey Susan