Whys is Snape allowed to continue spying?

[Tonks]

No: HPFGUIDX 131495

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <labmystc at y...> wrote:
>   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. This scene doesn't look to me as if LV is trying to put on a  
show for Harry or the others. He genuinely believes Snape is gone from 
his service, and will be killed as punishment. Lucius Malfoy is among 
the DEs present, so how can he act like normal in the presence of 
Snape? It would seem Lucius would be the closest to him, could 
 kill him easily, and return to LV with news of his death and regain 
> his master's favor.
> 
>   Now if Snape is a double agent, which he very well could be (though 
> I doubt it) then the above scene makes no sense. Like I stated, I 
> think LV was genuinely angry, not just putting on a show.
> 

Tonks:

We don't really know who LV was referring to.  We are only assuming. 
Maybe he thinks that Karkaroff is dead.  Maybe not. 

But there is a reason why LV might refer to Snape as the one who has 
left forever and still think that Snape is a double agent working for 
him. Remember Snape was not present at the battle of the MoM.  This may 
be to protect him from being killed by a DE who thinks that he has left 
forever.  But LV would not kill Snape himself.  Perhaps only LV and 
Malfoy know that Snape is a double agent.  That way Snape can spy for 
both sides.  If LV fears that there may be traitors among the DE 
wouldn't he let them think that Snape was working for DD?  That way a 
traitor would try to contact Snape. Then Snape would be in the rather 
intriguing position of really knowing who the traitors would be without 
really working for LV, but LV thinks that he still is.  The traitor DE 
would trust Snape believing that he has left LV forever. And LV thinks 
that Snape is really still working for him.  Snape only has contact 
with Malfoy for this reason. Perhaps the other DE's don't know that 
Malfoy has contact with Snape or if they do thereis some story to cover 
it that seems plausable.

Hummm
  soon we will know..  maybe.

Tonks_op