"Snape's Job"

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 93241

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "severelysigune" <severelysigune at y...> wrote:
> 
> I quote:
> <'That is just as well, Potter,' said Snape coldly, 'because you are 
> neither special nor important, and it is not up to you to find out 
> what the Dark lord is saying to his Death Eaters.'
> 'No - that's your job, isn't it?' Harry shot at him.
> He had not meant to say it; it had burst out of him in temper. For a 
> long moment they stared at each other, Harry convinced he had gone 
> too far. But there was a curious, almost satisfied expression on 
> Snape's face when he answered.
> 'Yes, Potter,' he said, his eyes glinting. 'That is my job. Now, if 
> you are ready, we will start again.'>
> 
> What on earth is Snape so (almost) satisfied about? Snape being 
> Snape, I suddenly started to wonder if he is pleased that Harry 
> should think he is spying whereas in fact he isn't (?!) - but that 
> does not seem to make much sense to me. And I find his suddenly 
> glinting eyes quite alarming. Any theories? Please?


I'm in a dilemma about this little cameo myself, but IMO it's possible
that Snape is playing games with Harry.

There has been no definite confirmation about what Sevvy actually
does for the Order. Most posters (plus Harry, Ron, Hermione etc)
assume that he's a spy. But again, as many posters have asked time
and again - how the hell could he get away with it? Why on earth
would Voldy or the DEs  trust him? If we think "Ah!  Double agent."
then those in positions of power in the Potterverse would have
no difficulty in thinking the exact same thing. I wish I could come
up with a reasonable alternative, but there's no evidence to base a
theory on.

This scene is the only instance so far that could (perhaps) nudge 
us into trying try to think of alternatives.

Based on Snape's character, it could go like  this:
What Snape does is kept secret and he doesn't go around advertising
his activities  for the Order, and he's certainly not going to tell Harry,
his bete noir, what he's up to. Harry guesses, but he's wrong. Snape's
expression would be typical of the man - "Wrong again, Potter. But
I'll let you stew in your ignorance. If only you knew the truth!"

Because if he really is a spy, why would he admit it? Especially to
Harry, who he  considers unable to control his mind or his feelings
and would, in Snape's mind, be a most unsafe confidant. In these
circumstances Sevvy would be happy to mislead Harry -  and us!

Kneasy