Tobias and the Angel (The Good) - Snape Part 2

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 167376

> Goddlefrood:
> This is where he became good, Dumbledore's man, which he remains
> and always will. The forgotten warrior for the Order, a man who,
> at great personal risk became a Death Eater and fooled LV for,
> well forever, since that time.

zgirnius:
Hmm. Yes, well, depending on the resolution of certain minor matters 
to which I refer below, the post might be appropriately named. <g>


> Goddlefrood:
> It does somewhat conflict with what Albus himself said at the 
> proceedings relative to Karkaroff during GoF, but then, it seems
> to me, that, genius though he undoubtedly is, Dumbledore plays his
> cards very close to his chest. 

zgirnius:
The statements of Dumbledore's which I find most in need of 
examination in light of this theory are not those made to the 
Wizengamot. That Snape was recruited as a teen-ager is such an 
iron-clad reason for trust that Voldemort cannot fail to see it 
that way himself. I can believe Dumbledore would mislead the 
Ministry on this point if he feared his testimony might leak out. 
(A reasonable fear in light of highly places spies Voldemort has 
had there in the past - the Unsepakable Rookwood comes to mind, 
as well as Lucius Malfoy's chumminess with Fudge and Umbridge.)

No, what interests me is exactly what happened one cold, wet night
at the Hog's Head Inn. 

> Dumbledore, to Harry, OotP:
> My - our - one stroke of good fortune was that the eavesdropper
> was detected only a short way into the prophecy and thrown from 
> the building.'
>
> 'So he only heard - ?'
>
> 'He heard only the beginning, the part foretelling the birth of 
> a boy in July to parents who had thrice defied Voldemort. 
> Consequently, he could not warn his master that to attack you 
> would be to risk transferring power to you, and marking you as 
> his equal. So Voldemort never knew that there might be danger 
> in attacking you, that it might be wise to wait, to learn more. 
> He did not know that you would have power the Dark Lord knows not -
 '


> Dumbledore, to Harry, HBP:
> "Professor Snape made a terrible mistake. He was still in
> Lord Voldemort's employ on the night he heard the first half 
> of Professor Trelawney's prophecy. Naturally he hastened to 
> tell his master what he had heard, for it concerned his master
> most deeply.

zgirnius:
The question arises, what was he doing listening outside that
door? Surely as Dumbledore's most trusted spy, if he had orders
from his supposed 'Master'to spy on Dumbledore, exactly what true
information and misinformation to bring back would have been
discussed with Dumbledore? 

In which case, it was no mistake.

It may be my sentimental nature, but while I am willing to buy 
Dumbledore would have been so cold-blooded as to send Snape with this
story to Voldemort, I have a distaste for theories in which
the PS/SS promise of Dumbledore not to lie to Harry is broken.
I may, of course, be proven wrong in this preference in a number of
ways in DH.

If Snape did indeed act independently, why? What motive does our 
angel have for making this 'terrible mistake'?

It is in part such concerns that lead me to prefer the idea that Snape
joined the Death Eaters for his own reasons after finishing school.
That the 'debriefing' played a role I could see, but the role would be
that of a straw on the camel's back. And, of course, a foundness for
the 'true siunner makes good' storyline hinted at if he did thereafter
appraoch Dumbledore and switch sides.