Did Snape defend trio at the end of PoA? /Are appearances important to Snape?

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 142185

 
> Alla:
 
> How could somebody like Snape acknowledge in front of other people 
> that three thirteen year olds overpowered him? Of course he won't 
do 
> so, because IMO it will diminish his image as powerful wizard, 
which 
> he cultivates so often ( again IMO).

Hickengruendler:

I don't have PoA handy and can't look, so please correct me, if I'm 
wrong. But didn't he admit, that they overpowered him? Sure, he said 
that they were bewitched, but that doesn't change the fact, that they 
knocked him off. Or was there something else he said?  

Alla:
  
> Are you saying that Snape is afraid if the true story will come out 
> for some reason? Maybe that Snape WAS aware that Pettigrew was a 
> traitor from the beginning and chose to keep his mouth shut? It was 
> always wierd to me that during those years Snape never met Peter.
> 

Hickengruendler:

I actually think that fits. Wormtail was Voldie's secret spy, 
therefore I doubt he would show him to everyone. Not to mention that 
Karkaroff said, that not every DE knew all his companions. On the 
other hand, the statement that some DE's were angry with Peter 
because they thought he betrayed him, contradicts this somewhat. 
Still, I would think Voldemort has enough sense not to tell too many 
people, who his secret spy is.