Why Leave Harry at HW at the End of HBP?

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 148159

Angie wrote:
>snipped the quote< 
> I understand that if Snape is really working for the Order (which I 
> believe he is) that he would not want to take Harry to LV, but that 
is 
> not what he says.  He says "Have your forgotten our orders? Potter 
> belongs to the Dark Lord -- we are to leave him!"

Potioncat:
I don't think Snape had any idea that Draco was bringing the DEs into 
Hogwarts. Or if he did, he didn't know how Draco was planning to do it, 
or that he was so close.

The group of DEs seem to look to Snape as the leader as soon as he 
shows up, and they may think he knows more than he really does. It 
could be that LV's standing orders are that no one is to kill Harry; LV 
plans to do that himself. In that case, Snape is perhaps embellishing 
the orders a bit to Harry's advantage. I doubt that LV would mind 
anyone working a bit of Cruciatus on Harry, but Snape makes it sound as 
if that is off limits too.

Such a considerate man.