LV knows about the Order and repaying a life debt

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 93286

RF wrote:
I think he [Voldemort] would have known about the Order even before
Wormtail came to him. He might not have known much about it or its
members, but someone as intelligent as LV would be able to recognize
that his opposition was organized and included more than Ministry
aurors. He would also surely know that Dumbledore was leading the
opposition. LV's fear of Dumbledore arises not only from Dumbledore's
incredible skill with magic, but also from his ability to inspire
other wizards to oppose him.


Carol:
But I wonder if Wormtail's treachery extends beyond the deaths of
James and Lily and the betrayal of Sirius (not to mention the twelve
dead Muggles). Dumbledore knew that someone in the Order was spying
for LV at least a year before the Potters' deaths and Lupin (I think)
tells Harry that the Death Eaters were picking off the members of the
Order one by one. IOW, LV not only knew there was an Order, he knew
the members' names. Unless there was more than one traitor, it must
have been Peter who revealed those names. If so, PP has a lot to
answer for, and even saving Harry's life to repay his life debt won't
redeem him in my eyes. (I almost forgot poor Cedric, whom he murdered
so coolly on Babymort's orders.)

Which reminds me that another character we've been discussing a lot
lately also has a life debt to repay. Snape was robbed of his chance
to repay his life debt to James by James's untimely death, and I think
at least part of Snape's motive in siding with DD now and (covertly)
helping Harry is his desire to rid himself of that life debt by saving
Harry's life. (He's come very close, but he's never quite succeeded.)

What I want to know is exactly what the consequences of failing to
repay a life debt might be. I don't really care in Wormtail's case,
since he's clearly a coward and a traitor, not to mention a murderer.
But what might it mean to, and for, Snape (beyond that elusive Order
of Merlin, First Class)?

Ideas, anyone?

Carol