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

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 92632

Carol wrote:
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. 
 
Susan:
Carol, I'm intrigued as to why you believe Snape's now in great 
danger of being exposed because of the MoM affair. Do you think 
Voldy & Lucius believe DD only came because Snape must have told him 
what was happening?  
<snip> 



Yes. Exactly. Maybe I'm assuming, as usual, but Kreacher probably knew
that Snape had contacted the Order members and he could well have
reported it to Malfoy or Narcissa. Even if Kreacher didn't talk, there
was no one else at Hogwarts who could have told Dumbledore and the
Order to go to the MoM to rescue Harry. (It couldn't have been
McGonagall, who was in St. Mungo's, and besides, she knew less than
Snape about LV's plans.)

I think Snape's cover is finally blown, but with luck, he'll still be
safe at Hogwarts for awhile. Certainly, his role as spy is disrupted
because Malfoy (whom I see as his contact) is in Azkaban, and I think
Malfoy will probably figure out that Snape is partly responsible for
putting him there. Dumbledore wasn't at Hogwarts and couldn't have
known that Harry was heading for the MoM unless someone told him, ans
who else could it be besides Snape? To answer the person who asked why
Snape isn't dead, IMO lies and occlumency and general cleverness have
protected him so far. But I don't see how even Snape can wiggle out of
this clear instance of being on the side of the Order. Can you think
of a lie that could excuse him or someone else he could blame without
betraying the Order? Could he somehow pin it on the conveniently dead
Sirius? I don't think so.

So, as I see it, Snape is in almost the same position now as Sirius
was in Grimmauld Place: He can't safely leave because there are still
DEs at large, notably Bellatrix, who would happily kill him now that
he's shown himself to be "the one who . . . has left us forever."
Fortunately for Snape, he still has his duties as teacher, head of
Slytherin, and Harry watcher to keep him occupied. My question is how
much Draco will know or suspect in Book 6. If Draco thinks (knows)
that Snape is no friend of his father's, what will happen to Snape's
authority at Hogwarts? Maybe if Draco hates him, Harry will start to
like him? (Well, maybe not.)

I would be a lot more worried about Snape if I didn't know two things:
he's a very cunning survivor and JKR has said he'll be in Book Seven.
I'll save my real anxiety about him till then!

Carol