Lupin visiting Sirius in Azkaban

[hannahmarder]

No: HPFGUIDX 112128

> Hannah now: 
> "I find it hard to understand why Snape didn't know that
> Pettigrew was the traitor, since the other death eaters seemed
>  to know, judging by their lack of surprise at finding him by 
> LV's side at his return.  Maybe he didn't know until after the
> betrayal occurred (because that raises the question of why he 
> didn't tell DD if he did know who the traitor was), and perhaps
> he decided it would be rather fitting to see his old enemy Black
> in Azkaban.  He could have lied to DD about having found some 
> sort of damning evidence that Black was indeed the traitor."
> 
> DuffyPoo:
> But then why would DD still trust Snape as he so obviously does, 
> and says, as late as OotP?  He would have known of the deception 
> by PoA.


Hannah again: That's a good point.  Could he forgive Snape?  Is it 
to do with the mysterious reason Snape switched allegiance (sp?)?  
I'm not sure.  It's just, the more I think about it, the harder I 
find it to understand why Snape didn't know Pettigrew was the 
traitor, when all the other DEs do.  Sirius says the reason 
Pettigrew 'hides' as a rat is because the other DEs are angry that 
he gave LV information that sent him to his (temporary) doom.  

Why doesn't Snape know when the rest do?  Is it that LV suspected 
him and so withheld that crucial information from him? If so, why 
let Snape back again? Did the DEs only find out after LV's downfall 
that Pettigrew was the traitor? If so, where was Snape when this 
information was being spread around?  Snape is Lucius Malfoy's 
'lapdog.'  Wouldn't Lucius, knowing Snape's feelings about Black, 
drop into conversation the delightful news that poor old Black was 
innocent after all?  

Perhaps Snape's crime isn't as bad as lying to DD to convict Black, 
but simply keeping his mouth shut once he's learnt the truth? He 
probably believed the imprisonment of Sirius wouldn't harm the Order 
any more, and I reckon he'd consider it justice for Black's 'attempted 
murder' of teenaged Severus.  His hysterical behaviour at the end of 
PoA could be partly due to his horror at realising DD now knows the 
truth and is not going to be very pleased with him, might even cease 
to trust him.  DD's good opinion and trust matter to Snape, I think.

There are a number of questions here that I'd like to hear people's 
thoughts on.  1. Did Snape know Pettigrew was the traitor? 2. If he 
did, when did he find out? 3. If he knew before the betrayal, why 
didn't he say anything - or did he? 4. If he didn't know at all, why 
didn't he when the other DE's did? 5. Vice versa, why didn't 
Pettigrew know Snape was a spy for the Order?