Snape's position

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 92542

 
> Neri wrote: 
> The importance of this need-to-know basis is now very clear when 
> Malfoy is in the hands of the aurors and can be interrogated.
 

Potioncat:  
Imagine if he were to name Snape!

Neri: 
However, perhaps Snape was able to get more information by spending 
some quality time with DEs who are a bit less discrete. I already 
noted that Lucius Malfoy has a tendency to brag, and just sitting in 
the bar with Crabbe and Goyle beaching about mudbloods could prove 
fruitful. And naturally, Snape's hand might accidentally slip, so a 
drop or two of veritaserum might find their way to Crabbe's and 
Goyle's glasses...


Potioncat: 
No wonder he looked so pale when he left the hospital wing...bar 
hopping with Crabbe and Goyle?  Let's hope he doesn't overdose on 
Draught of Peace!

All these evolving posts have demonstrated several ways that Snape's 
knowledge of the Mom Affair could have played out.   I have this bit 
of input about a scene in GoG that bothered me for quite a while, 
but may have a connection to this discussion.

"The Madness of Mr. Crouch" pp557--558.
This is where Harry is looking for DD and Snape comes from the 
headmaster's office and stalls Harry.  Then DD appears, listens to 
Harry and the two of them go off to see Crouch, leaving Snape behind.

I finally resolved, as have others, that Snape was stalling Harry 
while DD collected his thoughts (pensieve).  Then I couldn't work 
out why Snape didn't go with them.  He's often in the thick of 
things.

Then "The Pensieve"597--604.  It's not clear to me how much time has 
passed between the two events, but here, DD has a recent 
conversation with Snape as well as the events shortly after LV's 
fall.  

I think the meeting just before Harry brought the news of Mr. Crouch 
was when DD and Snape began planning for the role Snape would play 
when LV did return.  Snape left to go prepare, rather than joining 
Harry and DD as they went to see Mr. Crouch.

Potioncat