Snape and Quirrell in the Dark Forest

[jmgarciaiii]

No: HPFGUIDX 125002


Delurking here for a moment...

While rereading the canon--in anticipation of July 16th--I ran 
across the passage in PS/SS where Snape and Quirrell are discussing 
things in the Dark Forest:
------------------------QUOTE----------------------------------
Below, in the shadowy clearing, stood Snape, but he wasn't alone. 
Quirrell was there, too. Harry strained to catch what they were 
saying. 
"...d-don't know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places, 
Severus..." 
"Oh, I thought we'd keep this private," said Snape, his voice 
icy. "Students aren't supposed to know about the Sorcerer's Stone, 
after all." 
Harry leaned forward. Quirrell was mumbling something. Snape 
interrupted him. 
"Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?" 
"B-b-but Severus, I ---" 
"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell," said Snape, taking a 
step toward him. 
"I-I don't know what you ---" 
"You know perfectly well what I mean." 
An owl hooted loudly, and Harry nearly fell out of the tree. He 
steadied himself in time to hear Snape say, "--- your little bit of 
hocus-pocus. I'm waiting." 
"B-but I d-d-don't ---" 
"Very well," Snape cut in. "We'll have another little chat soon, 
when you've had time to think things over and decided where your 
loyalties lie." 
He threw his cloak over his head and strode out of the clearing. 
------------------------UNQUOTE----------------------------------

Question: Wouldn't this make Snape a useless spy? (To say nothing of 
an endangered one...) Voldemort would know (directly if he was 
hiding under the turban, indirectly if he wasn't at the time but 
took up subturban residency later and learned through Quirrell, 
right?

Thoughts?

-Joe in SoFla