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

[suehpfan]

No: HPFGUIDX 92429

Snip of Susan's post and beginning of Potioncat's
About Snape: 
> 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

This one really bothers me. Do all the DE's have the Darkmark?  When 
I read GoF, I assumed there would have had to be more DEs than in the 
graveyard and making that conculusion, I decided it was only 
his "inner circle" of DEs who had it.  

The big question to me is why is Snape still alive.  He is too smart 
to just be running around for Lucius Malfoy while Crabb and Goyle are 
showing up at important events like the MoM.  If Snape is really a 
DE, he would have had to know what means Voldemort was going to use 
to get Harry to the MoM.  Why not just TELL Harry what was coming.  
We know DD can't have contact with Harry but they both knew what 
Voldemort was trying to do and IMVHO Snape knew *exactly* what vision 
Voldemort was going to use.  *Especially* if he really is "Malfoy's 
lap dog".

We know Snape is powerful and smart.  We also know Voldemort is 
extremely powerful and brilliant.  The way I see it there are only 
two possibilities: 
1. Snape is very close to Voldemort and DD is a fool where he is 
concerned.  He is doing a "job" for Voldemort that will allow him 
access in and the ability to take over Hogwarts when he is ready.

2. Snape is indeed working for the Order, Voldemort knows this and is 
setting something up which will be the end of the Order and Snape.  
IOW Snape is nothing more than a pawn.

If the first is true, I can just hear the conversation after the MoM 
was over.  "But my Lord, I didn't notify anyone in the Order until 
there had been ample time for Lucius and the others to take the orb 
from 6 under age wizards. I watched them leave the forest and 
notified Lucius *immediately* even telling him exactly how many were 
coming and what their talents are.  What else could I do?  I kept DD 
away as long as possible.  I even tried to get Sirius to stay behind!"

If the second is true, Snape will have to know this after OotP.  Why 
wasn't he informed?  He could have helped get Harry there without the 
entanglements of other Order members. Obviously, The Dark Lord 
doesn't trust Severus Snape.

I'm not a Snape lover and the first scenario seems a whole lot more 
realistic to me given Snape and Lord V's characters.  Voldemort would 
not keep anyone around he doubted unless that person was useful in 
some way and I can't imagine Snape putting up with being below Crabb 
or Goyle on any totem pole.

The whole thing gets even more convoluted when you throw DD's trust 
of Snape into the mix.   Why didn't Snape know what was happening?  
Why did it take so long for the Order members to get there if Snape 
was not deliberately stalling to give the DE's enough time.  How can 
he be a "double" agent if he isn't able to help head off a *huge* 
problem?  Or if he doesn't know what is going on?

What is the story with Severus Snape?! (Sue screams loudly at her 
computer).  I just don't get it.

Someone help me...Carol? Susan? Potioncat? Anyone?

Sue, who apologizes for the length of this post.