Why did Voldemort offer to spare Lily? (was: Reactions to Snape)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 175816

Zara:
> Addressing your question, Dumbledore in the second meeting with
> Snape in "The Prince's Tale" states that Snape, like the Potters, 
> placed his trust in the wrong person. I took that to mean 
> Voldemort. Had Voldemort refused, it would make no sense to state 
> that Snape placed any trust in him. So, I think Snape must have 
> gone to Dumbledore after obtaining some sort of reassurance from 
> Voldemort. If it was not a lack of trust in that assurance, perhaps
> Snape meant to cover all his bases from the start, and approached 
> Voldemort first simply because that was easier for him as a Death 
> Eater. Meeting Dumbledore required making some arrangements to see 
> him, and a greater degree of personal risk.

Jen:  I understood Snape made a request to Voldemort and that was the 
end of it; he and Dumbledore only ever mention the request and not an 
answer.  Isn't that right or have I missed something?  At the end 
when Harry is talking to LV about Snape, Snape's request is mentioned 
and LV doesn't mention agreeing to the request.  

Voldemort wouldn't feel obligated to offer assurances to a follower 
requesting something, at least he doesn't read that way to me.  
Snape's love for Lily and his request were foolish ('fools who 
love'), a matter of Snape's weakness, and Voldemort might spare Lily 
if he saw a use to do so.  If not, he could exploit Snape's weakness 
to his own advantage.  Well, he probably exploited Snape either way, 
holding the request over his head, taunting him, etc.

Snape is desperate the night he meets Dumbledore, not acting like a 
man assured Lily will be saved.  Going to Dumbledore read as an added 
protection, a request of the only one Voldemort ever feared in the 
hopes that Dumbledore might be able to intervene in some way *before* 
it reached the point where Snape would have to depend on LV.

Jen