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

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 92420

After a lot of snipping of several posts:

Siriusly Snapey Susan wrote:
 
> 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.


I think JKR was having a lot of fun with this one.  She knew she 
would get one reaction the first time we read it and a different one 
after we finished the book!  She really fixed us when she said some 
of the fan sites had it right.  Of course, we all think she intended 
our own interpretation. (Whatever that might be.)

Honestly, it could go either way.  And we don't know if Karkaroff is 
hiding or has been killed.  We do know Snape is still alive.  We 
know he has contact with Malfoy.  So, either he was thought of as 
the coward and has been punished.  Or, he was the one LV said "I 
think has left us..."  The "I think" leaves room for doubt.  

It was Quirrel and Crouch who were in contact with LV, reporting on 
Snape  and they 
weren't the most reliable individuals.  With Snape speaking for 
himself, and Malfoy (possibly) in a position to vouch for him, he 
could have talked his way back into the fold.

But I even wonder if that has happened.  He didn't seem to know 
about the plans for the MoM, yet Malfoy was one of the leaders at 
the battle.  If he has gotten back in, he hasn't gotten very high.

Potioncat