Question..

[Cathy Drolet]

No: HPFGUIDX 135357

Amandasg28 asked:
>Maybe someone can refer me to the answer to my question, as I am sure 
that I am incorrect in my initial thoughts when reading this.  I was 
under the impression that Snape only went to DD after he realized 
that VD had fallen when attacking the Potters and thought there would 
be no one to spare him from Azkaban.

CathyD now:
"Dumbledore had got to his feet, 'I have given evidence already on this matter.' he said calmly. 'Severus Snape was indeed a Death Eater.  However, he rejoined our side before Lord Voldemort's downfall and turned spy for us, at great personal risk.  He is now no more a Death Eater than I am." (GF pg 513 Can Ed)

I think the confusion comes in with HBP.  While in the hospital wing, near the end of the book, Harry is saying why DD believes Snape "'I know,' said Harry, and they all turned to stare at him. 'Snape passed Voldemort the information that made Voldemort hunt down my mum and dad.  Then Snape told Dumbledore he hadn't realised what he was doing, he was really sorry he'd done it, sorry that they were dead.' "  

If you read the chapter 'The Seer Overheard" Dumbledore never says Snape was sorry that Lily and James were dead, but that he was sorry he passed the information that led Voldemort to hunt down people that Snape knew.  

In my opinion, when Snape found out what LV was going to do with the prophecy information, he went straight to Dumbledore and Dumbledore set him up as a spy for the Order of the Phoenix. Snape still had that debt to James, remember.  James saved his life.  Being saved from death by an 'enemy' seems to produce this kind of debt.  Snape went to Dumbledore to - hopefully - repay that debt, believing if he told DD then DD could stop the Potters being murdered.  DD tried to prevent the Potter murders by setting up the Fidelius Charm.  It all went pear-shaped when the Potters chose Peter, at Sirus' suggestion, as the Secret Keeper.

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