Whys is Snape allowed to continue spying?

[saraquel_omphale]

No: HPFGUIDX 131493

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <labmystc at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Juli <jlnbtr at y...> wrote:
> > 
> > > 
> > > Chris:
> > > Now obviously the DEs know the dead ones whom LV
> > > is referring to. 
> > > Karkaroff is the cowardly one, Barty JR. the loyal
> > > one, that leaves 
> > > Snape. 
> > 
> > Juli: Actually I always thought that "The one who has
> > left me forever, he'll die" is Karkaroff, "The Coward
> > who'll pay" is Severus, and I agree that Barty of
> > course is the loyal one.

>I don't think LV would fall for this excuse. "I'm at 
> Hogwarts...gimme a sec and I'll be right there." Besides, I think 
>the 
> information LV has on the Death Eaters is what he has gleaned from 
> speaking to Pettigrew, Bertha's memories, Crouch Jr., and Crouch 
>Sr. 
> LV does not see or speak to any DEs until they apparate into the 
> graveyard. So obviously he learned of Snape and Karkaroff from one 
of 
> these sources.

Saraquel:
Actually, I think LV learned about Snape whilst nestled in Quirrel's 
turban.  But, in the Occlumency lesson where Harry directly 
questions Snape says:

OotP p521 Br Ed
"...it is not up to you to find out what the Dark Lord is saying to 
his Death Eaters.
'No - that's your job, isn't it?" Harry shot at him.
......
"Yes, Potter...."

Snape does not say his job is to spy directly on LV, but to find out 
what LV is saying to his DEs - very different thing.  I think that 
either Snape has a ship with Narcissa, and has had for a long time. 
JKR has hinted that we will find out about Snape's love life in book 
7. Or he has some sort of blackmailing relationship with one of the 
Malfoys.  His protection of young Draco would imply the former to be 
more likely and am presuming that this idea has lead to speculation 
on this list about, is Draco Snape's son? (I've seen that as the 
subject of a post before, but didn't read it.)  There is also the 
tantalising hint JKR put on her website denying Luna to be Snape's 
daughter, but adding at the end - "Snape does not have a daughter."

I don't think that Snape is spying directly, but using the Malfoys 
in some way.  If he is entangled with Narcissa, then he would jump 
at the mention of Lucius Malfoy as one of the DEs, as Harry recounts 
in the hospital scene at the end of GoF, guilty conscience and the 
very real danger of Lucius finding out about it.

Saraquel