The Nature of Snape's Spy Work

[quick_silver71]

No: HPFGUIDX 143485

How does Snape spy?

I've pondered this question for along time and would like to throw 
out an idea.

Quick_Silver's idea: Snape's mission has never been about getting 
information from Voldemort or his followers. Oh there's no doubt 
that if the chance came up he'd pass along something useful to the 
Order and Dumbledore but that was never his primary purpose. Snape's 
main mission was to rescue/advise fellow DE's that wanted to leave 
Voldemort's camp. 

Why do I think this?

First: Lupin and Hagrid both function as spies among two enemy 
groups, the werewolves and the giants, and although they provide 
insight into Voldemort's campaign among other groups both state that 
their main purpose was to spread Dumbledore's message among said 
groups. Both speak of trying to convince members to join the 
campaign against Voldemort (and the limited success that said 
message had).

When a chance arises to help Draco, i.e. the Unbreakable Vow, Snape 
certainly seems to take the opportunity. Snape's knows that a lot of 
what Draco is experiencing is probably bravo and naiveté and would 
certain realize that Draco is a prime candidate for conversion to 
the "Good" side.

Second: Snape is always at Hogwarts throughout book 5 and 6. I can't 
recall Harry ever noticing that Snape was missing for even moderate 
amounts of time during these years whereas Hermione quickly notices 
that Dumbledore is missing during book 6. As a spy, against 
Voldemort, Snape seems to spend almost the entirety of his time 
among Dumbledore's camp...the one place that he doesn't need to be. 

Third: What information has Snape provided to the Light side that is 
of true importance? The actions of the Order is book 5/6 seem to be 
based more on Dumbledore's assumptions about Voldemort's plans then 
any inside information. Dumbledore states at the end of GoF what the 
ministry needs to do and when the ministry fails to do it the Order 
does. Lupin states that Dumbledore has a shrewd idea what Voldemort 
is up to (the prophecy) and considering that Voldemort basically 
told Harry his goals in the graveyard...almost none of the 
information in OotP can be traced back to Snape's spying (no wonder 
Harry annoys Snape...Harry's a better spy at 14 then Snape's ever 
been). Snape failed to give any heads up about the attack on Arthur 
(which is understandable...that was probably known to Voldemort 
alone), he fails to inform the Order about the break out from 
Azkaban (unless Dumbledore and McGonagall are grave simply because 
it finally happened), and he's clearly in the dark about the plot 
against Harry at the end despite the fact the DE in the DoM seem to 
have been given fairly detailed information on the plan (i.e. 
Bellatrix says the Dark Lord always knows and several laughed when 
Harry mentioned Sirius). 

When Snape does act at the end of OotP he is little more then a 
glorified runner boy carrying messages. Even his suggestion that 
Sirius should stay behind is laughable...Snape wouldn't be able to 
say how many DEs were going to be there so leaving a man behind is 
the height of recklessness especially considering that Sirius is 
simply able to order Kreacher to pass along the message (which he 
does
Dumbledore then delays to find out way Kreacher is laughing).

The only statement by Dumbledore that I can think of that implies 
information from within Voldemort's camp is when he talks about 
Voldemort's reaction to the loss of a Horcrux and his anger at 
Lucius.

Fourth: Most of the information about the Horcruxs doesn't seem to 
come from DE sources i.e. Dumbledore seems to have collected most of 
it himself. It can't even be conclusively stated that Snape knows 
what a Horcrux is. 

In conclusion: I personally believe that Snape is good (as much as 
he troubles me) but I don't believe that his purpose in the story is 
as much to provide information to the Order or Harry as it is to 
remind them that there are human being on the other side. Snape (and 
also Draco) are a lesson to Harry that he must remember his mercy 
(and remember the limits of his mercy).

Quick_Silver (waiting for this idea to be torn apart)