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

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 92427

> 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.

Potioncat:
> 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.

Susan:
I agree, Potioncat, both that JKR had a lot of fun w/ this one :-) 
and that we just still don't know anything for sure!  Keep in mind 
that the part of my post you snipped, above, was actually my "last 
resort" kind of explanation; I had listed three possibilities and 
then thrown this in as maybe a 4th.  But people seem to be able to 
argue *any* of the possibilities...and I think that's what likely 
makes JKR grin.

You're so right that her saying some of the fansites have gotten it 
right doesn't really do much to help.  With so many fansites & so 
many theories, we can't know which ones she's referring to!

Siriusly Snapey Susan...who's just looking forward to finding out 
the solution to this one *someday*.