PoA - Snape knew?

[va32h]

No: HPFGUIDX 143360

ginny343 wrote:
> > We know from PoA that the DEs knew that Peter was a spy.  
> > 
> > "You've been hiding from Voldemort's old supporters . . . Sounds 
> > like they think the double-crosser double-crossed them . . . " 
> > (Am. ver. p. 368)
> > 
> > So, he was probably part of the /circle/ (literally) of 
> > supporters that Voldemort would call to him (like in the 
> > graveyard).  There was a place for Snape too (the one he thought 
> > had left him forever).  So that means, like all the other DEs 
> > (loyal or not), Snape knew Peter was the spy.


va32h: 
I don't think Peter was a DE when he sold out the Potters. I think 
his tip off about the Potters was his first deed for Voldemort. 
Peter says himself "what was to be gained by refusing him." To me, 
that sounds like Peter was confronted by Voldemort, and decided to 
jump ship at that moment, and hand over the Potters in exchange 
for...protection? power? respect? Who knows how a rat's mind works!
Snape does not necessarily have to know Peter was the one who 
betrayed the Potters - I think Voldemort keeps all his followers on 
a need-to-know basis. 


> > That given, I am a little confused about why Sirius was believed 
> > to be a spy.  Did they think there was two spies working on the 
> > same thing?  

va32h: 
Well, the people who think Sirius is the betrayer (not necessarily spy) are people who aren't in a position to know better. Fudge, Lupin, McGonnagal - they all believed Wormtail's cover story - 
accusing Sirius, faking his own death. Now Snape probably knows that 
Sirius never worked for Voldemort. But Snape loathes Sirius - he has 
no motivation to do Sirius any favors. 


> > Did Snape think Sirius went after Peter to kill him because 
> > Peter had caused the downfall of Voldemort? 

va32h: 
Snape follows Lupin into the shack, not Sirius. Snape suspects Lupin of helping Sirius get into Hogwarts - and that's what he expects to find when he gets to the shack - Sirius and Lupin, concocting plans.  

 
> > of what happened in PoA, Snape should have told the minister 
> > that Black was not the one who got James and Lily killed.  Why 
> > didn't he?

va32h: 
Snape hates Sirius. Snape doesn't care if Sirius' name and reputation are cleared or not. Snape wouldn't care if Sirius had his soul sucked out. One of the complexities of all the books is that sometimes characters who are on the "good" side, are still full of flaws, and still end up doing loathesome things. Snape may ultimately be working for the good side, but he still has a cruel streak a mile wide. 

va32h