Snape was at the Potter's House That Night

[Kathy]

No: HPFGUIDX 145203

I began to respond to the TBAY post, only as I did - this theory, 
based on canon, popped up.  

It started because of the question of Snape's need to protect Harry.

Canon:  

Snape realized that he could no longer serve the Dark Lord and went 
to Dumbledore.  

Dumbledore asked Snape to continue to be with the Dark Lord and act 
as a double agent.  

If these are facts, doesn't it make sense that Snape could have been 
with Voldemort when he went to the Potters that night?  (Laugh if 
you want, but years ago I said it was Snape that heard the prophecy 
and everyone laughed then too.) 

We've read that Lily yelled at James for being nasty to Snape. 
Again, canon.  

If Snape were in that house when James was killed - his deep seated 
hatred of the man would have left nothing for him  to feel guilt 
about, however...

Why did Voldemort tell Lily to get out of the way?  Voldemort 
doesn't care about killing anyone...why did he try to save Lily?

Because Snape was with him. Snape didn't want to be RESPONSIBLE for 
Lily's life, and the orphaning of her child.  

(LOL!  As I write this I'm thinking of Snape coming to Dumbledore 
saying that he will now have to be responsible for Harry's life and 
so he'll take him in.  Immediately Dumbledore, knowing the torture 
that the poor baby would be put through, decided that the Dursleys 
would be far better than Snape as foster parents!  LOL!!!)

Bottom line: Snape feels responsible for Harry, not just for a 
Quidditch game, not for saving his life once, twice, or thrice, but 
until he becomes a man - which in this case is one book away.  
Depending on the amount of guilt he feels - which is why he hates 
Harry, so it seems as if it's quite a lot - he may feel he needs to 
protect him beyond his 17th year...

OK - I'm ready to be hit over the head...thoughts? 

KathyO