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

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 92351

Carol:
> > > 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?  


> Puja:
> I agree with Carol that the coward must be Karkaroff coz he fled 
> when the scar burned and "one who has left forever" (Snape- coz we 
> know he has redeemed himself to Dumbledore)

> I am just wondering, if LV knows that Snape is the one who has 
> left forever then what exactly is Snape doing for the Order? He 
> could not be acting spy for Dumbledore coz that would be risking 
> his life going near LV or any other death eaters. What do you 
> think could be his work?

Susan:
LOL, Puja.  Your questions here at the end are part of the reason I 
suggested Snape's being the coward & not the one who'd left 
forever. :-)  Snape tells Harry during occlumency lessons that it is 
his job to find out what Voldy's up to.  I took that to mean he is a 
spy for the Order. And the only ways I could see that Snape would be 
in a position to spy are:

1) he's a vampire [not!!];
2) he somehow managed to get to the graveyard that night and so was 
none of the three Voldy mentioned [unlikely, in my eyes];
3) he was the coward who DID take his punishment and was allowed 
back in the fold;

The only other possibility I can imagine would be that he was indeed 
the one Voldy believed was gone forever & who'd have to be killed... 
but that *somehow* [how?!?] he was given the chance to talk his way 
out of it.

Siriusly Snapey Susan