Wormtail at Spinner's End (WAS Re: New(?) questions about the Unbreakable Vow)

[Nathaniel]

No: HPFGUIDX 141889

> houyhnhnm:
<snip> 
> it is the presence of Wormtail he must turn to good account. It's got 
to look suspicious that the wizard who brought LV back to life is 
living in Snape's house and listening at keyholes.  So he solves that 
threat by brow-beating Wormtail into the role of a servant.

Nathaniel:
You hit on an interesting point here houynhnm, but you don't really 
delve into it.  (Perhaps you've addressed this at length in another 
post, and if that's the case, you must forgive me for missing it among 
the many posts.)  But the question is, just what is Peter doing at 
Snape's home?  I had been assuming that Voldemort foisted him on Snape 
as a place to hide him.  He couldn't very well use Peter in any 
practical way since with the clearing of Sirius' name, Peter's animagus 
form, if not a matter of common knowledge is at least now public record.

However, your post seems to indicate that you believe that Voldemort 
placed Peter there so as to keep an eye on Snape.  And now that you've 
placed that idea in my head, I'm inclined to agree. After all, Peter 
already served Voldermort once as a spy.  From Book 4, it seems that 
Voldemort really has no confidence in Peter in any capacity other than 
that as spy.  Based on wormtail's complete absence from Book 5 it 
doesn't seem that Voldemort's estimation of him has changed.  So by 
placing him at Spinner's End, it seems that Voldemort doesn't entirely 
trust Snape after all.  Therefore, even though Snape protests that he 
has the Dark Lord's full confidence, Peter's presence would indicate 
otherwise.  

I don't know if this sheds light on the ongoing discussion as to 
Snape's motives, but I do believe that Snape is not on as solid ground 
with Voldemort as he would have everyone believe.  Perhaps that is why 
he consented to the Unbreakable Vow?  Whatever your position on Snape 
(ESE, OFM, or DDM), it makes more sense to me that he took the UV in 
order to show his allegience to the Dark Lord.  

Whether or not that allegience was sincere is a debate I thoroughly 
enjoy reading!