"Snape's Job"

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 93262

Kneasy:
> 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!
> 

Neri:
Snape does report to the Order, so they know at least something, 
which they pointedly do not tell Harry (and us). But we do know that 
whatever Snape is doing (or at least, whatever he tells the Order he 
is doing) is dangerous and valuable. Otherwise he wouldn't have been 
able to bait Sirius, implying that Sirius just sits at home and does 
nothing important. And Snape knows that he can't lie to Harry too 
much regarding this, because sooner or later someone from the Order 
will finally tell Harry (and us!) what is Snape's job. So I don't 
think Snape is lying to Harry, unless (of course) he lies to the 
whole Order and DD included. 

In fact, Snape's attitude towards Harry in this "That is my job" is 
very similar to Snape's attitude towards Sirius. It is "you all 
unsubtle, noisy Gryffindors who wear your hearts on your sleeves, can 
you just sit quietly for one moment and let The Professional do the 
delicate, crucial job?" 

So I believe Snape *is* a spy. And as for the question how does he 
get away with it, I can see only one realistic answer:

It's magic...



Neri