Whys is Snape allowed to continue spying?

[susanmcgee48176]

No: HPFGUIDX 131643

> "...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...."
> (quotes from OotP stolen from Saraquel's post)
> 
> IIRC, Snape pauses for a moment before his "Yes, Potter" and smirks 
> as he answers.  This passage has always bothered me - Would Snape 
> willingly agree with Harry about this if it was the truth?  And if 
he 
> were to confirm this for Harry, would he do it in such a 
> smug/condescending way? (Granted, Snape reeks of smug attitude, but 
> usually when he's got the upper hand).  If Harry were right about 
> this, wouldn't it have caught Snape off guard?  
> 
> I read this passage in a different way.  IMO, Harry assumes he 
knows 
> what Snape's job is...but he's wrong. Snape is amused by what he 
sees 
> as Harry's arrogance and smugly agrees, instead of clarifying what 
> he's actually doing for the Order.  
> 
> Is there anything in canon that specifically says that Snape is 
> currently working as a spy?  
> 
> I personally think there's something more to Snape's duties than we 
> know and that there's a big reason they've been kept a secret from 
> us.  Of course...I have no theories on what he could be doing if 
he's 
> not a spy.  Any takers?  :)
> 
> Jenza

I agree that it is not explicitly stated that Snape is a spy. 
However, I think it's implied by the smirked "yes potter".

I think someone posting previously might have figured it out...maybe 
Snape has a relationship with one of the Death Eaters who is giving 
him information.

Is he a double agent? That is, really working for Voldemort? I doubt 
it. First, he wouldn't have prevented Harry from being killed in the 
Philosopher's Stone. Second, JKR states that Snape's "redemption" 
will be a model for at least one other redemption. (I think I'm 
remembering that correctly.)

Susan McGee
(if you're over 40 and want a low volume list, you can join Harry 
Potter for Grownups Over 40 by emailing me at SusanGSMcGee at aol.com)