Occlumency -THE REAL STORY

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 123360


eggplant wrote:
 
> The memories Harry saw certainly won't endanger Snape, just
embarrass him. And it's very difficult to understand how Snape could
still be a spy after Dumbledore told the entire world in open court
years ago that Snape had been a spy. Fame is usually a good thing but
not if you're a spy. The term "famous spy" is a bit of a non sequitur.

Carol responds:
Dumbledore did not tell "the entire world" that Snape had been a spy.
He told the Wizengamot in what was probably a closed hearing, with
neither the public nor the press present. (No Rita Skeeter; that was
Bagman's hearing.) Most likely both Snape, who was cleared of all
charges, and Karkaroff, who was there to testify against his fellow
DEs, were afforded court protection. There's no indication whatever
that he was a "famous spy."

Unlike the accused DEs who got off by pleading the Imperius Curse
(Malfoy, Nott, Avery, et al.), his name was not published in the Daily
Prophet. If his true story were known, he'd have been murdered by his
former friends, who still believe him to be a loyal DE (or did until
they were arrested in the MoM). Or, if he somehow managed to maintain
their trust despite being a known spy for the other side (some
convincing Slytherin-style lie that he wasn't *really* spying for
Dumbledore--pulled the wool over the old Legilimens' eyes), there's no
way that the parents of the non-Slytherin students would tolerate him
as a teacher of their children.

It's clear, at least to me, that the WW (excluding the members of the
Wizengamot, the teachers at Hogwarts, the Order members, and now
Cornelius Fudge) don't know Snape's past, either the DE past he's
rejected or the spy role he's apparently resumed. I do think, though,
that his cover is finally in danger of being blown.

Carol, with apologies for repeating arguments I've made before but I
think this is important