Future of Snape's Spying

[Dave Hardenbrook]

No: HPFGUIDX 144925

WARNING: The following theory assumes DDM!Snape.  Viewer discretion is
advised. :)

Okay -- So it appears that Snape's murder of DD places him firmly in
Voldemort's good graces, which, if he indeed is DDM, is what DD
intended to make him more efficient as a spy than ever.

Problem is, what good is a spy whom everyone on his side thinks is a
duplicitous traitor and seems ready to kill on sight?

I think there must be *one* person whom DD has confided in -- One
person who knows Snape is really and truly DDM, and whom Snape is going
to be secretly in communication with all through Book 7.

Who is this person?  I believe the person in question must have the
following qualities:

-- Someone with a past history of giving Snape the benefit of the
    doubt, and therefore ready to accept his confidences.
    
-- Someone close to Harry that can pass along Snape's intel to him
    without his knowing who the real source is.

-- Someone clever enough to pass off Snape's intel as their own
    "brilliant bursts of insight" and Harry isn't the wiser.

-- Someone astute enough to secretly master Occlumency, just in case
     LV gets a hold of them.

-- Someone whom Jo has already dropped a hint may not be unequivocally
     against Snape at this point.

So who is this person?  Who is Snape's only friend and confident?
Who is to be Bob Woodward to Snape's Deep Throat?
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Wait for it...
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Cue the fanfare (or melodramtic chord -- take your pick)...
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         Hermione Granger!


I think Hermione meets all the above criteria -- The "hint" dropped by
Jo is when in the last chapter of HBP Harry calls Snape "evil" and
Hermione says, "Evil is a pretty strong word", which on the face of
it seems like an odd thing to say under the circumstances -- unless
Hermione is "Snape's person, through and through". (I didn't say "woman"
because I didn't want to imply HG/SS, which I *don't* believe in at all.)

So I'm imagining that at some point Dumbledore told Hermione "everything"
regarding Snape and his true allegence.  (Why not tell Harry?  Because
he's never mastered Occulmency and perhaps DD conceded that he never
will -- So Harry can't be trusted to protect Snape's secrets from LV
and the DEs, but Occlumens!Hermione could.)

So Dumbledore teaches Occlumency to Hermione, explains the plan of his
staged murder by Snape, and then provides a means of communication
with Snape -- either her DA coins or Sirius' two-way mirror.  For most
of Book 7 Hermione gets info from Snape that proves invaluable to
Harry's quest, thoug he thinks it's all coming from Hermione's "great
brain".  (And for the second time he's getting help from Snape
without knowing it!)

I'm imagining at some point Harry finds out about Hermione's contact
with Snape, and he accuses Hermione of treachery -- This would be
the long-speculated-on "betrayal" of Harry by one of the others of
the Trio -- except it isn't an actual betrayal.  Eventually Harry
learns the truth and they are reconciled, but only at a point when
Harry can be enlightened without blowing Snape's cover.


So that's my theory.  Comments/criticism...?

-- 
Dave