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

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 92496

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

As I've already indicated, I agree with possibility number four. Snape
must have convinced someone (in my view, Lucius Malfoy) that he had
very good reasons for not being at the graveyard (beginning with the
impossibility of apparating from Hogwarts and having to be with DD at
the Tri-Wizard Tournament). If anyone could convince Malfoy (and,
through him, LV) that Snape is not a traitor to LV, it would be Snape
himself. So I *do* think that Snape is spying on the DEs either
directly or indirectly and that he is both brave and clever enough to
manage that seemingly impossible feat. (IMO, he probably enjoys the
challenge of outwitting two very dangerous enemies, one of them his
former friend--even though, unlike Sirius, he doesn't enjoy risk for
its own sake.)

As I've said, I think his position as seeming spy for Voldemort and
real spy for Dumbledore is now in great danger of being exposed
because both LV and Malfoy will (rightly) suspect him of having acted
for the Order instead of for them in the MoM affair. Fortunately we
have JKR's word (in an interview) that Snape will play a crucial role
(for good or ill) in Book Seven, so we know that somehow his wits and
other resources will get him through the coming crisis. Will he become
a substitute father figure to Draco? I can't wait to see.

Carol