Snape's position

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 92455

> > > Sue wrote:
> > > > 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.   <big snip> 
 
Neri:
> > In a secret military organization such as the DEs, everybody 
> > operates on a need-to-know basis. Crabbe and Goyle most likely 
> > did not know about the LV's plans for Harry. There was no need 
> > for them to know. <snip> So was Snape told about the MoM 
> > operation in advance? The first question is: does he need to 
> > know? If not, he is simply not told, however high he is in the 
> > DE organization. 

Sue:
> Thanks for the response (everyone). I am still bothered (as is at 
> least one other poster I read tonight) about the reason Snape is 
> still alive.  I think I must be giving him too much credit.  There 
> is no other way for this all to work unless Voldemort and Malfoy 
> both see Snape as less capable than most of us who read the books 
> do.  

Susan now:

Sue, the portion of my first message that got snipped & forwarded on 
wasn't the part of it which attempted to answer your original 
question [so I've removed it].  I think Neri has a point, above, and 
I'm going to try again to explain why I think Snape is still alive.  
If this doesn't work, so be it, but at least it'll be the part which 
attempted to answer your question....


Now, as for what you see as the only two possibilities. I see
something else, because of the assumptions above *and* the fact that
I agree that Snape is powerful & smart. If Voldy wants Snape as his
spy--and he's the *only* DE we're aware of in such a prime spot for
keeping an eye on DD--then he *will* let Snape "off the hook" or
instruct him not to do certain things other DEs are doing, such as
showing up to fight at the MOM. This is precisely so that Snape can
maintain his position of trust w/ DD. If Snape showed up w/ the
others, he'd have blown his cover, right? And maybe Voldy feels it
is way too early in the contest to give up his one big spy.

It's a lovely position for Snape, actually. He has built-in excuses
to give Voldemort whenever he doesn't seem loyal or when he can't
show up somewhere [like the graveyard?], for he must keep up
appearances w/ DD *and* must keep an eye on DD. In return, DD can
help Snape select information to give Voldy or Lucius--enough to
stay convincing but not enough to be too damaging.

As for Snape possibly having been able to tell Harry precisely how
Voldy would attempt to get to Harry, I'm not sure you're not giving
Snape too much credit there. I don't know whether I believe Snape
knew specifically how it would be accomplished. But also, *even if
he did know/suspect*, Snape has to be just as careful in how much
information he gives to DD/Harry/The Order as he is in giving info
to Voldy. If it appears that they know too much, Voldy is likely to
suspect that Snape is betraying him. Who else would have that info
& could share it w/ Harry or DD? Snape walks a very fine line, imo,
a line which requires him to be a very good actor & liar and a very
good judge of how much information is enough/too much.

Siriusly Snapey Susan