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ricardienneYes. That's right. I wrote this essay a long time ago, and am putting it up now -- mainly because I want to cite it somewhere else and need a link. I realize that I may be eating my words very very soon.
Snape’s Mission: an exhaustive case for Snape the Double Agent
Part I: Why Snape's a Spy
Until recently, it had never occurred to me that Snape’s work for the Order was any other than his pretending to be a Death Eater. However, I have since seen many theories and heard many arguments that suggest the contrary. Having been forced to examine my position, I now hold it more strongly than ever. Let’s examine the evidence
‘Severus,’ said Dumbledore, turning to Snape, ‘you know what I must ask you do to. If you are ready…if you are prepared…’
‘I am,’ said Snape.
He looked slightly paler than usual, and his cold, black eyes glittered strangely. (GF 619)
We know from this that Snape is undergoing some mission for Dumbledore, something that he expected to be asked to do, and yet something that the headmaster gives him the option of refusing. We can also tell that Snape is at the very least nervous about this. The logical conclusion is that Snape is going to resume his work that he did during the first war. But logic is not enough here; we need more evidence.
Although Dumbledore publicly announced Snape to have been a spy, that fact does not seem to be widely known. Sirius tells Harry that he never heard Snape accused of being a Death Eater (GF 461) either before his arrest, or denounced as a “traitor” by those faithful Voldemort-supporters in Azkaban. Karkaroff’s confession supports this as well “I assure you! Severus Snape is a Death Eater!” He says (GF 513). Not was, but is. As far as Karkaroff knows, Snape never switched sides. This, to me, indicates that Snape’s status as a double agent would not have been common knowledge. Certainly, Lucius Malfoy would not have been so close to Snape had he believed him to be a tool of Dumbledore, whom he clearly despises. There seems to be a fairly close relationship between the two men through the first four books -- understandable if they had been Death Eaters together, but unlikely if Snape had “officially” switched sides. Thus I believe that at the time of Voldemort’s first fall, the Death Eaters did not suspect Snape. It is even possible that Voldemort knew Snape had joined the Order, but was made to believe that it was for the purposes of spying for him. It is interesting to note that Snape most likely was sent by Voldemort to his job at Hogwarts. He began teaching there a few months before the Dark Lord’s fall.
In Order of the Phoenix, tout a changé. The Dark Lord is back. And Lucius Malfoy, one of only two Death Eaters who Voldemort addresses by first name, still “speaks most highly” of Snape (OoP 657). To be sure, it is possible that Lucius is only pretending to be close to Snape for form’s sake. But this his case seems very unlikely. Lucius does not seem the type to keep up an appearance of friendliness simply to stop people from talking, and he would certainly not want Voldemort to associate him with a known traitor. No, Lucius Malfoy must believe that his old companion --follower?: Sirius calls Snape Malfoy’s “lapdog” (OoP 460) -- is once again working for the Dark Lord. It is equally unlikely that Voldemort would have neglected to mention that one of his Death Eaters had turned coat. Why risk that one of the faithful would inadvertently crucial information to him?
It has been proposed that Lucius Malfoy is in fact working against Voldemort, that he is unhappy with the Dark Lord’s return and is trying to undermine him. In this scenario, he passes information to Snape in an effort to thwart Voldemort. In return, Snape teaches him Occlumency. I think this to be very unlikely. Occlumency is a “highly obscure” branch of magic -- one in which I doubt Mr. Malfoy would become proficient enough quickly enough to cover himself from Voldemort. Nor do I think that Lucius Malfoy is rebelling against the Dark Lord. I have come to think that he is part of the Death Eater group that yearns for a return of unregulated power and prestige that their pureblood families (presumably) used to have. He does have ideological reasons for wanting Voldemort in power. And then, he wants power himself. Power that even freely-distributed bribes to the Ministry can’t get for him.
The theory that Snape is impersonating Barty Crouch, or another Death Eater, with polyjuice potion is just as ridiculous. I sincerely hope that JK Rowling realizes how barely believable it was with Barty Crouch and Alastor Moody; I can’t imagine that she would try to pull the same trick again. Logistically, as well, it makes no sense. How then would Snape explain his necessarily erratic attendance to Voldemort’s summons, his inability to take a more active role in Death Eater proceedings? How would he account for the actual Death Eater whose appearance he was taking? As Voldemort’s spy at Hogwarts (whether in actuality or in pretense), he has a ready excuse for these things: the need not to arouse Dumbledore’s suspicion.
Thirdly, we have Snape’s own (albeit indirect) admissions that he is a spy:
First, from Goblet of Fire:
‘Why do you think Karkaroff fled tonight? We both felt the [Dark] Mark burn. We both knew he had returned. Karkaroff fears the Dark Lord’s vengeance. He betrayed too many of his fellow Death Eaters to be sure of a welcome back to the fold.’ (GF 616)
This is not an explicit admission of anything, but the shift in Snape’s diction, from the inclusive “we” to the exclusive “Karkaroff” and “he” is noticeable. Although both men “felt the Mark burn,” only Karkaroff “fears the Dark Lord’s vengeance.” The insinuation is that Snape neither fears vengeance nor doubts a welcome back. Karkaroff fled from Voldemort; he didn’t. Is it simply because he trusts his powerful friend Dumbledore to protect him? I think not.
And then there is this, more explicit, evidence from Order of the Phoenix:
‘… it is not up to you to find out what the Dark Lord is saying to his Death Eaters.” [Snape said]
‘No-- that’s your job, isn’t it?’ Harry shot at him.
He had not meant to say it; it had burst out of him in temper. For a long moment they stared at each other, Harry convinced that he had gone too far. But there was a curious, almost satisfied expression on Snape’s face when he answered.
‘Yes, Potter,’ he said, his eyes glinting. ‘That is my job.’ (OoP 521)
This is unequivocal. Either Snape is lying, or he has rejoined Voldemort to spy on him. The information that Snape is a “superb occlumens” could be part of a giant red herring leading us to believe that Snape is among the Death Eaters when the reverse is true. However, if Snape could “shut down those feelings that contradict the lie, and so utter falsehoods in his [Voldemort’s] presence without detection,” and if he had been a Death Eater, and he had spied undetected during the First War, why would Dumbledore not have asked him to pretend to go back? Why not make use again of this important asset when the Dark Lord is risen “greater and more terrible than before?” Too, there is a precedent for the reader being set up to assume something, and for that assumption being later proven correct. In Goblet of Fire, it was revealed that Hagrid and Mme Maxime were half-giants. And that Dumbledore wanted to send envoys to the giants. And suddenly, Rubeus and Olympia set out on a secret mission for Dumbledore at the end of the book. Lo’ and behold, in Order of the Phoenix, we found that they had indeed gone to the giants, as we had all suspected. Similar parallels exist for Snape. We just happen to find out that he was a Death Eater, and that he had spied during the First War. And then he is immediately sent out on a dangerous mission. The timing here is important as well. Why would Dumbledore so soon after Voldemort’s return send Snape out on just any dangerous mission? Because Voldemort would expect him as soon as he could reasonably get away.
The largest piece of evidence against Snape’s having returned to Voldemort is considered to be the dialogue between himself and Professor Quirrel in Philosopher’s Stone. His actions to save Harry at the quidditch match could be explained away as what was necessary to maintain Dumbledore’s trust, but the discussion between the two professors in the Forbidden Forest is rather damning, considering that Voldemort heard the entire thing:
‘… d-don’t know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places, Severus…’
‘Oh, I thought we’d keep this private,’ said Snape, his voice icy. ‘Students aren’t supposed to know about the Philosopher’s Stone, after all.’
…
‘Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid’s yet?’
‘B-b-but Severus, I-’
‘You don’t want me as your enemy, Quirrel,’ said Snape, taking a step towards him.
‘I-I don’t know what you-’
‘You know perfectly well what I mean.’
…
‘--your little bit of hocus pocus. I’m waiting.’
‘B-but I d-d-don’t -’
‘Very well,’ Snape cut in. ‘We’ll have another little chat soon, when you’ve had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie.’ (PS 165-166)
When we first read this dialogue, we assume that Snape is threatening Quirrel for the purposes of getting the Stone himself. By the end of the book, we have “realized” that Snape is in fact trying to thwart Quirrel’s efforts in that direction. However, there are several important points that must be considered. Firstly, we are working from the assumption that Snape is on Dumbledore’s side. This is the assumption that Quirrel makes as well. But let’s look at it instead from Voldemort’s perspective. That is, after all, the point of view which counts so far as this essay is concerned. What then, does Voldemort witness?
Here, we have a man who was a Death Eater, and who, though not in the Dark-Lord-worshipping-fanatic class of Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch, did not betray (as far as Voldemort knows) his fellow Death Eaters. He is about where Lucius Malfoy is: he will come back to the fold if the Dark Lord returns, but he is not going to go to any great personal risk just to advance the possibility of that return. However, he is now faced with Quirrel. This man, not a Death Eater, not one of the original circle of servants, is trying to get the Philosophers Stone, presumably in order to revive Voldemort. Snape is not averse to the idea of the Dark Lord returning…but it would be much better if he were the one to bring his master the Stone, not this upstart Quirrel person. So he threatens Quirrel, tries to head him off before he can get to the Stone; Snape’s talk of loyalties, the sticking point of the conversation when one tries to talk about it in terms of Snape thinking Quirrel wants the stone for himself, then becomes a pointed comment on Quirrel's devotion to Voldemort, or his (perceived) lack thereof. Perhaps even more likely is the following scenario: Snape is trying to get the Stone for himself, and is trying to subvert Quirrel into helping him. Either way, Voldemort sees typical Slytherin behavior in trying to put oneself forward as much as possible.
It is interesting as well that Snape never (as far as Quirrel/Voldemort knows) goes to Dumbledore with his suspicions. If he were truly on that side, and knew of a plot to bring back He-who-must-not-be-named, surely he would inform the Headmaster. That he does not would further allay Voldemort’s suspicions.
And what of the broomstick jinx? If Snape were on Voldemort’s side, wouldn’t he have looked the other way while Quirrel knocked Harry off? The obvious explanation is that Snape couldn’t have known where the jinx was coming from and probably assumed it was from some seventh year Slytherin student who was little over-competitive. (Yes, Hagrid has said that only “powerful Dark magic” can interfere with a broomstick, but Hagrid has been known to exaggerate,and, in any case, I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the older Slytherins have picked up a bit Dark magic whether from their parents, their Head of House, or their friends.) Furthermore, he would have found it difficult to explain to Dumbledore why he simply stood by and watched a student be taken off his broom. Why might Snape be expected to deal with a jinx? He’s only considered to be the resident Dark Arts expert, after all, probably more knowledgeable about jinxes and counterjinxes than even Professor Quirrel.
As for the theory that Snape is a spy, but not one in contact with Voldemort, it can be discounted with common sense. Why would Dumbledore ask a full-time teacher to play spy during the school year unless he was the only one who could do it? What could Snape bring to the job of spy that any other member of the Order could not? His Death Eater background, of course. And this either makes him the only man for the job (because he can spy directly) or the last one (because Voldemort would surely be out to kill him). To quote Sirius Black, “you don’t just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It’s a lifetime of service or death.” Snape, as we have all surely realized. Is very much alive. Granted, through Book Five, Voldemort is trying to stay inconspicuous, and murdering a Hogwarts teacher would be bound to raise questions. But Dumbledore already knows the truth, and the Ministry is happily explaining away and covering up much larger events -- the escape of Voldemort’s ten most powerful followers, for example. A fortuitous “accident” to a schoolteacher would convince no one that he had returned. If Voldemort ever discovers (or has discovered) that Snape has left him, Snape will likely be confined to Hogwarts and/or Grimmauld Place for his own protection. The most irresponsible thing possible on Dumbledore’s part would be to ask him to get anywhere near the Death Eaters if they knew he were a traitor. The fact that Snape is alive and actively spying is some of the best evidence for his having gone to Voldemort at the end of Goblet of Fire.
Finally, we must look at Snape’s narrative position. He is the mean teacher, the one who uses his position to (unjustly) make the hero’s life miserable. Snape regularly docks Harry points, fails him in nearly every class that we witness, terrorizes whomever he can and blatantly favors his own students. But Snape has a second role as well. He is the most ambiguous character in the series. Every book, it is put forth that he might be on Voldemort’s side. Every book (so far) his actions are suspicious but he comes out ultimately on the side of good. It is continually hinted that he might not have switched from Voldemort’s side. We have been told repeatedly that Dumbledore trusts him, and we trust Dumbledore to make the right decision-- but the doubt remains. Snape’s skill at Occlumency only underscores that fact that we, the readers, do not know his mind and cannot tell which way he will swing in the end. Snape may be spying on the Death Eaters for the Order or he may be spying on the Order for the Death Eaters. He may be doing both, whether to play both sides or to dispel suspicion from the side he is not playing. Either way, he must be in both Voldemort’s and Dumbledore’s respective “Orders.” Otherwise, this essential part of his character is lost.
Part II: Snape’s place in the Circle
‘And here we have six missing Death Eaters … three dead in my service. One, too cowardly to return … he will pay. One, who I believe has left me for ever … he will be killed, of course … and one, who remains my most faithful servant, and who has already reentered my service.’ (GoF 565)
The three dead Death Eaters we can safely disregard, as, can we the “most faithful servant,” who is without a doubt Barty Crouch, Jr. (based on Voldemort’s later remarks and his own confession). Is Snape the “one, too cowardly to return,” the “one, who I believe has left me for ever,” or does he belong in an entirely different space in the circle?
Examining the first phrase: “One, too cowardly to return … he will pay.” I see two possibly meanings. On the one hand, Voldemort has a particular reason for believing this Death Eater to be a coward, for example, a knowledge of Karkaroff’s growing uneasiness as his Dark Mark grew more and more distinct over the course of the year. I see no reason for Snape being described in such terms. However, Voldemort has just asked himself “How many will be brave enough to return when they feel it? … and how many will be foolish enough to stay away?” In these terms, by saying “one, too cowardly to return,” he is simply denoting a no-show. Snape could thus easily be this missing Death Eater.
This being said, I would lean more towards the second (or fourth) absent Death Eater for Snape if he is indeed one of these three: the “one, who I believe has left me forever.” In spite of his not knowing that Snape had spied for the Order during the end of the first war, Voldemort might have a very good reason to believe that Snape has switched sides: the events of Harry’s first year.
When reading the Philosophers Stone, we were given to believe that Snape was the bad guy who had to be thwarted. It was an unexpected reversal when he turned out to have been Harry’s protector all along. Which is all very nice, but we must not forget that Voldemort witnessed, from the back of Quirrel’s head, all the events of that year. He was aware of all of Snape’s attempts to block Quirrel, from trying to kill Harry at the Quidditch Match, from getting past Fluffy on Halloween. These could be excused away, perhaps, by Snape’s presumed obligation to protect his students and the interests of the headmaster, though Voldemort would be bound to wonder why Snape felt the need to get involved unless he felt a real loyalty to Dumbledore. Most damning, however, is his conversation with Quirrel in the Forbidden Forest:
‘… d-don’t know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places, Severus…”
‘Oh, I thought we’d keep this private,’ said Snape, his voice icy. ‘Students aren’t supposed to know about the Philosopher’s Stone, after all.’… ‘Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid’s yet?’
‘B-b-but Severus, I-’
‘You don’t want me as your enemy, Quirrel,’ said Snape, taking a step towards him.
‘I-I don’t know what you-’
‘You know perfectly well what I mean.’
…
‘B-but I d-d-don’t -’
‘Very well,’ Snape cut in. ‘We’ll have another little chat soon, when you’ve had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie.’ (PS 165-166)
“When you’ve … decided where your loyalties lie.” Snape’s loyalties are very clear in this scene, which Voldemort overheard from the back of Quirrel’s head. Could Snape have not known why Quirrel was after the Stone? The centaurs thought it obvious (PS 189), and Dumbledore moved the Stone to Hogwarts presumably to prevent it from falling into Quirrel/Voldemort’s hands. Snape must have realized what was going on, and Voldemort must know that he realized. Actively working against Voldemort’s reempowerment is quite indicative of his having “left forever.” [See Part I for explanation of how this may be resolved.]
Furthermore, Snape is not dead. He was able to regain Voldemort’s good graces. Can he really be the Death Eater who Voldemort says so casually “will be killed, of course?” I think that it is possible, though not probable. Voldemort says he “believes” that this Death Eater has switched sides; he does not state it definitively. I would place an unspoken qualification after Voldemort’s statement. “He will be killed, of course, if he indeed has left me forever.” Another possibility is that Voldemort does indeed intend to kill Snape at this point, but that Snape persuades him, once he arrives, of his loyalty and usefulness.
It is fairly clear that each Death Eater had a set place in the circle, so it is not unreasonable to expect that many Death Eaters present know which of their peers should stand in the gap. Voldemort’s sequence in listing them is quite dramatic: first, the three “dead in my service”, that is, three loyal Death Eaters, then the coward, in careful contrast to them. Three who died for their master, and one “too cowardly to return.” Then we have the traitor, the worst of the six , and finally the “most loyal servant,” in a sort of resolution. There is only a one in one hundred and twenty chance that of a given six Death Eaters, three of whom are dead, one a traitor, one a coward, and one faithful, the three dead would have stood together at one end, and the coward, the traitor, and the faithful one in exactly that order next to them. Thus I propose that the order in which these six were listed is not the order in which they originally stood, making it unclear to the Death Eaters present exactly which of their fellows is which.
It is interesting to note that Voldemort is very vague on the identity of this “faithful servant.” Here is what he says:
[Bertha Jorkins] told me that she knew of a faithful Death Eater who would be only too willing to help me, if I could only contact him.
…
[I used] my one faithful Death Eater, stationed at Hogwarts, to ensure that the boy’s name was entered into the Goblet of Fire … to ensure that the boy won the Tournament - that he touched the Triwizard Cup first, - the Cup which my Death Eater had turned into a Portkey. (GoF569-570)
Remember that all present at this point, with the exception of Wormtail and Voldemort himself, think that Barty Crouch, Jr. died in Azkaban. To the listening Death Eaters, then, there are only two (unless there are Death Eaters at Hogwarts of whom we are not aware) people who could be the “faithful servant:” Snape and Karkaroff. When Snape returns, and Karkaroff does not, they will think they know the identities of two of the six: Snape as the faithful one and Karkaroff as the coward/traitor. Crouch, of course, is numbered with those already dead. The traitor/coward, then, becomes one of the Death Eaters who is, in fact, dead. This is a bit problematic, as presumably the wizarding world knows which supporters were killed and which went to Azkaban.
Therea re two more possbilities for Snape: that he is present and in the circle, and that he is not present, but belongs in one of the other gaps. The argument for the former bases itself mainly on the glance that Snape gives Harry when the latter is naming Death Eaters to Fudge. Snape, so this line of reasoning goes, is worried that Harry will have recognized and will expose him. That Snape then shows his Dark Mark to Fudge would seem to refute this theory, unless Snape wishes to keep Dumbledore from knowing he went immediately to his master’s side. If this is the case, then Snape’s allegiances become even more uncertain.. However, it is also notable that Snape is not assigned to patrol the Maze at the Tri-Wizard Cup, making it more possible for him to have left unnoticed to Voldemort’s side. Likewise, the night of the Yule Ball, he is freely wandering. It seems thad Dumbledore may have been keeping Snape on low-profile throughout GoF in order to give him this chance, should Voldemort re-appear. I fail, however, to see why many people conclude that if Snape is not mentioned by Voldemort, he must be in the circle at that moment. The Dark Lord knows exactly what is going on at Hogwarts as he returns. He would know not to expect Snape to be able to get away immediately. This must have been the case in the months before his fall, when Snape was working at Hogwarts but still under his orders. Snape’s somewhat unusual position as a double-agent/spy might also allow for a private audience with the Dark Lord.
Snape’s Mission: an exhaustive case for Snape the Double Agent
Part I: Why Snape's a Spy
Until recently, it had never occurred to me that Snape’s work for the Order was any other than his pretending to be a Death Eater. However, I have since seen many theories and heard many arguments that suggest the contrary. Having been forced to examine my position, I now hold it more strongly than ever. Let’s examine the evidence
‘Severus,’ said Dumbledore, turning to Snape, ‘you know what I must ask you do to. If you are ready…if you are prepared…’
‘I am,’ said Snape.
He looked slightly paler than usual, and his cold, black eyes glittered strangely. (GF 619)
We know from this that Snape is undergoing some mission for Dumbledore, something that he expected to be asked to do, and yet something that the headmaster gives him the option of refusing. We can also tell that Snape is at the very least nervous about this. The logical conclusion is that Snape is going to resume his work that he did during the first war. But logic is not enough here; we need more evidence.
Although Dumbledore publicly announced Snape to have been a spy, that fact does not seem to be widely known. Sirius tells Harry that he never heard Snape accused of being a Death Eater (GF 461) either before his arrest, or denounced as a “traitor” by those faithful Voldemort-supporters in Azkaban. Karkaroff’s confession supports this as well “I assure you! Severus Snape is a Death Eater!” He says (GF 513). Not was, but is. As far as Karkaroff knows, Snape never switched sides. This, to me, indicates that Snape’s status as a double agent would not have been common knowledge. Certainly, Lucius Malfoy would not have been so close to Snape had he believed him to be a tool of Dumbledore, whom he clearly despises. There seems to be a fairly close relationship between the two men through the first four books -- understandable if they had been Death Eaters together, but unlikely if Snape had “officially” switched sides. Thus I believe that at the time of Voldemort’s first fall, the Death Eaters did not suspect Snape. It is even possible that Voldemort knew Snape had joined the Order, but was made to believe that it was for the purposes of spying for him. It is interesting to note that Snape most likely was sent by Voldemort to his job at Hogwarts. He began teaching there a few months before the Dark Lord’s fall.
In Order of the Phoenix, tout a changé. The Dark Lord is back. And Lucius Malfoy, one of only two Death Eaters who Voldemort addresses by first name, still “speaks most highly” of Snape (OoP 657). To be sure, it is possible that Lucius is only pretending to be close to Snape for form’s sake. But this his case seems very unlikely. Lucius does not seem the type to keep up an appearance of friendliness simply to stop people from talking, and he would certainly not want Voldemort to associate him with a known traitor. No, Lucius Malfoy must believe that his old companion --follower?: Sirius calls Snape Malfoy’s “lapdog” (OoP 460) -- is once again working for the Dark Lord. It is equally unlikely that Voldemort would have neglected to mention that one of his Death Eaters had turned coat. Why risk that one of the faithful would inadvertently crucial information to him?
It has been proposed that Lucius Malfoy is in fact working against Voldemort, that he is unhappy with the Dark Lord’s return and is trying to undermine him. In this scenario, he passes information to Snape in an effort to thwart Voldemort. In return, Snape teaches him Occlumency. I think this to be very unlikely. Occlumency is a “highly obscure” branch of magic -- one in which I doubt Mr. Malfoy would become proficient enough quickly enough to cover himself from Voldemort. Nor do I think that Lucius Malfoy is rebelling against the Dark Lord. I have come to think that he is part of the Death Eater group that yearns for a return of unregulated power and prestige that their pureblood families (presumably) used to have. He does have ideological reasons for wanting Voldemort in power. And then, he wants power himself. Power that even freely-distributed bribes to the Ministry can’t get for him.
The theory that Snape is impersonating Barty Crouch, or another Death Eater, with polyjuice potion is just as ridiculous. I sincerely hope that JK Rowling realizes how barely believable it was with Barty Crouch and Alastor Moody; I can’t imagine that she would try to pull the same trick again. Logistically, as well, it makes no sense. How then would Snape explain his necessarily erratic attendance to Voldemort’s summons, his inability to take a more active role in Death Eater proceedings? How would he account for the actual Death Eater whose appearance he was taking? As Voldemort’s spy at Hogwarts (whether in actuality or in pretense), he has a ready excuse for these things: the need not to arouse Dumbledore’s suspicion.
Thirdly, we have Snape’s own (albeit indirect) admissions that he is a spy:
First, from Goblet of Fire:
‘Why do you think Karkaroff fled tonight? We both felt the [Dark] Mark burn. We both knew he had returned. Karkaroff fears the Dark Lord’s vengeance. He betrayed too many of his fellow Death Eaters to be sure of a welcome back to the fold.’ (GF 616)
This is not an explicit admission of anything, but the shift in Snape’s diction, from the inclusive “we” to the exclusive “Karkaroff” and “he” is noticeable. Although both men “felt the Mark burn,” only Karkaroff “fears the Dark Lord’s vengeance.” The insinuation is that Snape neither fears vengeance nor doubts a welcome back. Karkaroff fled from Voldemort; he didn’t. Is it simply because he trusts his powerful friend Dumbledore to protect him? I think not.
And then there is this, more explicit, evidence from Order of the Phoenix:
‘… it is not up to you to find out what the Dark Lord is saying to his Death Eaters.” [Snape said]
‘No-- that’s your job, isn’t it?’ Harry shot at him.
He had not meant to say it; it had burst out of him in temper. For a long moment they stared at each other, Harry convinced that he had gone too far. But there was a curious, almost satisfied expression on Snape’s face when he answered.
‘Yes, Potter,’ he said, his eyes glinting. ‘That is my job.’ (OoP 521)
This is unequivocal. Either Snape is lying, or he has rejoined Voldemort to spy on him. The information that Snape is a “superb occlumens” could be part of a giant red herring leading us to believe that Snape is among the Death Eaters when the reverse is true. However, if Snape could “shut down those feelings that contradict the lie, and so utter falsehoods in his [Voldemort’s] presence without detection,” and if he had been a Death Eater, and he had spied undetected during the First War, why would Dumbledore not have asked him to pretend to go back? Why not make use again of this important asset when the Dark Lord is risen “greater and more terrible than before?” Too, there is a precedent for the reader being set up to assume something, and for that assumption being later proven correct. In Goblet of Fire, it was revealed that Hagrid and Mme Maxime were half-giants. And that Dumbledore wanted to send envoys to the giants. And suddenly, Rubeus and Olympia set out on a secret mission for Dumbledore at the end of the book. Lo’ and behold, in Order of the Phoenix, we found that they had indeed gone to the giants, as we had all suspected. Similar parallels exist for Snape. We just happen to find out that he was a Death Eater, and that he had spied during the First War. And then he is immediately sent out on a dangerous mission. The timing here is important as well. Why would Dumbledore so soon after Voldemort’s return send Snape out on just any dangerous mission? Because Voldemort would expect him as soon as he could reasonably get away.
The largest piece of evidence against Snape’s having returned to Voldemort is considered to be the dialogue between himself and Professor Quirrel in Philosopher’s Stone. His actions to save Harry at the quidditch match could be explained away as what was necessary to maintain Dumbledore’s trust, but the discussion between the two professors in the Forbidden Forest is rather damning, considering that Voldemort heard the entire thing:
‘… d-don’t know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places, Severus…’
‘Oh, I thought we’d keep this private,’ said Snape, his voice icy. ‘Students aren’t supposed to know about the Philosopher’s Stone, after all.’
…
‘Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid’s yet?’
‘B-b-but Severus, I-’
‘You don’t want me as your enemy, Quirrel,’ said Snape, taking a step towards him.
‘I-I don’t know what you-’
‘You know perfectly well what I mean.’
…
‘--your little bit of hocus pocus. I’m waiting.’
‘B-but I d-d-don’t -’
‘Very well,’ Snape cut in. ‘We’ll have another little chat soon, when you’ve had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie.’ (PS 165-166)
When we first read this dialogue, we assume that Snape is threatening Quirrel for the purposes of getting the Stone himself. By the end of the book, we have “realized” that Snape is in fact trying to thwart Quirrel’s efforts in that direction. However, there are several important points that must be considered. Firstly, we are working from the assumption that Snape is on Dumbledore’s side. This is the assumption that Quirrel makes as well. But let’s look at it instead from Voldemort’s perspective. That is, after all, the point of view which counts so far as this essay is concerned. What then, does Voldemort witness?
Here, we have a man who was a Death Eater, and who, though not in the Dark-Lord-worshipping-fanatic class of Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch, did not betray (as far as Voldemort knows) his fellow Death Eaters. He is about where Lucius Malfoy is: he will come back to the fold if the Dark Lord returns, but he is not going to go to any great personal risk just to advance the possibility of that return. However, he is now faced with Quirrel. This man, not a Death Eater, not one of the original circle of servants, is trying to get the Philosophers Stone, presumably in order to revive Voldemort. Snape is not averse to the idea of the Dark Lord returning…but it would be much better if he were the one to bring his master the Stone, not this upstart Quirrel person. So he threatens Quirrel, tries to head him off before he can get to the Stone; Snape’s talk of loyalties, the sticking point of the conversation when one tries to talk about it in terms of Snape thinking Quirrel wants the stone for himself, then becomes a pointed comment on Quirrel's devotion to Voldemort, or his (perceived) lack thereof. Perhaps even more likely is the following scenario: Snape is trying to get the Stone for himself, and is trying to subvert Quirrel into helping him. Either way, Voldemort sees typical Slytherin behavior in trying to put oneself forward as much as possible.
It is interesting as well that Snape never (as far as Quirrel/Voldemort knows) goes to Dumbledore with his suspicions. If he were truly on that side, and knew of a plot to bring back He-who-must-not-be-named, surely he would inform the Headmaster. That he does not would further allay Voldemort’s suspicions.
And what of the broomstick jinx? If Snape were on Voldemort’s side, wouldn’t he have looked the other way while Quirrel knocked Harry off? The obvious explanation is that Snape couldn’t have known where the jinx was coming from and probably assumed it was from some seventh year Slytherin student who was little over-competitive. (Yes, Hagrid has said that only “powerful Dark magic” can interfere with a broomstick, but Hagrid has been known to exaggerate,and, in any case, I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the older Slytherins have picked up a bit Dark magic whether from their parents, their Head of House, or their friends.) Furthermore, he would have found it difficult to explain to Dumbledore why he simply stood by and watched a student be taken off his broom. Why might Snape be expected to deal with a jinx? He’s only considered to be the resident Dark Arts expert, after all, probably more knowledgeable about jinxes and counterjinxes than even Professor Quirrel.
As for the theory that Snape is a spy, but not one in contact with Voldemort, it can be discounted with common sense. Why would Dumbledore ask a full-time teacher to play spy during the school year unless he was the only one who could do it? What could Snape bring to the job of spy that any other member of the Order could not? His Death Eater background, of course. And this either makes him the only man for the job (because he can spy directly) or the last one (because Voldemort would surely be out to kill him). To quote Sirius Black, “you don’t just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It’s a lifetime of service or death.” Snape, as we have all surely realized. Is very much alive. Granted, through Book Five, Voldemort is trying to stay inconspicuous, and murdering a Hogwarts teacher would be bound to raise questions. But Dumbledore already knows the truth, and the Ministry is happily explaining away and covering up much larger events -- the escape of Voldemort’s ten most powerful followers, for example. A fortuitous “accident” to a schoolteacher would convince no one that he had returned. If Voldemort ever discovers (or has discovered) that Snape has left him, Snape will likely be confined to Hogwarts and/or Grimmauld Place for his own protection. The most irresponsible thing possible on Dumbledore’s part would be to ask him to get anywhere near the Death Eaters if they knew he were a traitor. The fact that Snape is alive and actively spying is some of the best evidence for his having gone to Voldemort at the end of Goblet of Fire.
Finally, we must look at Snape’s narrative position. He is the mean teacher, the one who uses his position to (unjustly) make the hero’s life miserable. Snape regularly docks Harry points, fails him in nearly every class that we witness, terrorizes whomever he can and blatantly favors his own students. But Snape has a second role as well. He is the most ambiguous character in the series. Every book, it is put forth that he might be on Voldemort’s side. Every book (so far) his actions are suspicious but he comes out ultimately on the side of good. It is continually hinted that he might not have switched from Voldemort’s side. We have been told repeatedly that Dumbledore trusts him, and we trust Dumbledore to make the right decision-- but the doubt remains. Snape’s skill at Occlumency only underscores that fact that we, the readers, do not know his mind and cannot tell which way he will swing in the end. Snape may be spying on the Death Eaters for the Order or he may be spying on the Order for the Death Eaters. He may be doing both, whether to play both sides or to dispel suspicion from the side he is not playing. Either way, he must be in both Voldemort’s and Dumbledore’s respective “Orders.” Otherwise, this essential part of his character is lost.
Part II: Snape’s place in the Circle
‘And here we have six missing Death Eaters … three dead in my service. One, too cowardly to return … he will pay. One, who I believe has left me for ever … he will be killed, of course … and one, who remains my most faithful servant, and who has already reentered my service.’ (GoF 565)
The three dead Death Eaters we can safely disregard, as, can we the “most faithful servant,” who is without a doubt Barty Crouch, Jr. (based on Voldemort’s later remarks and his own confession). Is Snape the “one, too cowardly to return,” the “one, who I believe has left me for ever,” or does he belong in an entirely different space in the circle?
Examining the first phrase: “One, too cowardly to return … he will pay.” I see two possibly meanings. On the one hand, Voldemort has a particular reason for believing this Death Eater to be a coward, for example, a knowledge of Karkaroff’s growing uneasiness as his Dark Mark grew more and more distinct over the course of the year. I see no reason for Snape being described in such terms. However, Voldemort has just asked himself “How many will be brave enough to return when they feel it? … and how many will be foolish enough to stay away?” In these terms, by saying “one, too cowardly to return,” he is simply denoting a no-show. Snape could thus easily be this missing Death Eater.
This being said, I would lean more towards the second (or fourth) absent Death Eater for Snape if he is indeed one of these three: the “one, who I believe has left me forever.” In spite of his not knowing that Snape had spied for the Order during the end of the first war, Voldemort might have a very good reason to believe that Snape has switched sides: the events of Harry’s first year.
When reading the Philosophers Stone, we were given to believe that Snape was the bad guy who had to be thwarted. It was an unexpected reversal when he turned out to have been Harry’s protector all along. Which is all very nice, but we must not forget that Voldemort witnessed, from the back of Quirrel’s head, all the events of that year. He was aware of all of Snape’s attempts to block Quirrel, from trying to kill Harry at the Quidditch Match, from getting past Fluffy on Halloween. These could be excused away, perhaps, by Snape’s presumed obligation to protect his students and the interests of the headmaster, though Voldemort would be bound to wonder why Snape felt the need to get involved unless he felt a real loyalty to Dumbledore. Most damning, however, is his conversation with Quirrel in the Forbidden Forest:
‘… d-don’t know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places, Severus…”
‘Oh, I thought we’d keep this private,’ said Snape, his voice icy. ‘Students aren’t supposed to know about the Philosopher’s Stone, after all.’… ‘Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid’s yet?’
‘B-b-but Severus, I-’
‘You don’t want me as your enemy, Quirrel,’ said Snape, taking a step towards him.
‘I-I don’t know what you-’
‘You know perfectly well what I mean.’
…
‘B-but I d-d-don’t -’
‘Very well,’ Snape cut in. ‘We’ll have another little chat soon, when you’ve had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie.’ (PS 165-166)
“When you’ve … decided where your loyalties lie.” Snape’s loyalties are very clear in this scene, which Voldemort overheard from the back of Quirrel’s head. Could Snape have not known why Quirrel was after the Stone? The centaurs thought it obvious (PS 189), and Dumbledore moved the Stone to Hogwarts presumably to prevent it from falling into Quirrel/Voldemort’s hands. Snape must have realized what was going on, and Voldemort must know that he realized. Actively working against Voldemort’s reempowerment is quite indicative of his having “left forever.” [See Part I for explanation of how this may be resolved.]
Furthermore, Snape is not dead. He was able to regain Voldemort’s good graces. Can he really be the Death Eater who Voldemort says so casually “will be killed, of course?” I think that it is possible, though not probable. Voldemort says he “believes” that this Death Eater has switched sides; he does not state it definitively. I would place an unspoken qualification after Voldemort’s statement. “He will be killed, of course, if he indeed has left me forever.” Another possibility is that Voldemort does indeed intend to kill Snape at this point, but that Snape persuades him, once he arrives, of his loyalty and usefulness.
It is fairly clear that each Death Eater had a set place in the circle, so it is not unreasonable to expect that many Death Eaters present know which of their peers should stand in the gap. Voldemort’s sequence in listing them is quite dramatic: first, the three “dead in my service”, that is, three loyal Death Eaters, then the coward, in careful contrast to them. Three who died for their master, and one “too cowardly to return.” Then we have the traitor, the worst of the six , and finally the “most loyal servant,” in a sort of resolution. There is only a one in one hundred and twenty chance that of a given six Death Eaters, three of whom are dead, one a traitor, one a coward, and one faithful, the three dead would have stood together at one end, and the coward, the traitor, and the faithful one in exactly that order next to them. Thus I propose that the order in which these six were listed is not the order in which they originally stood, making it unclear to the Death Eaters present exactly which of their fellows is which.
It is interesting to note that Voldemort is very vague on the identity of this “faithful servant.” Here is what he says:
[Bertha Jorkins] told me that she knew of a faithful Death Eater who would be only too willing to help me, if I could only contact him.
…
[I used] my one faithful Death Eater, stationed at Hogwarts, to ensure that the boy’s name was entered into the Goblet of Fire … to ensure that the boy won the Tournament - that he touched the Triwizard Cup first, - the Cup which my Death Eater had turned into a Portkey. (GoF569-570)
Remember that all present at this point, with the exception of Wormtail and Voldemort himself, think that Barty Crouch, Jr. died in Azkaban. To the listening Death Eaters, then, there are only two (unless there are Death Eaters at Hogwarts of whom we are not aware) people who could be the “faithful servant:” Snape and Karkaroff. When Snape returns, and Karkaroff does not, they will think they know the identities of two of the six: Snape as the faithful one and Karkaroff as the coward/traitor. Crouch, of course, is numbered with those already dead. The traitor/coward, then, becomes one of the Death Eaters who is, in fact, dead. This is a bit problematic, as presumably the wizarding world knows which supporters were killed and which went to Azkaban.
Therea re two more possbilities for Snape: that he is present and in the circle, and that he is not present, but belongs in one of the other gaps. The argument for the former bases itself mainly on the glance that Snape gives Harry when the latter is naming Death Eaters to Fudge. Snape, so this line of reasoning goes, is worried that Harry will have recognized and will expose him. That Snape then shows his Dark Mark to Fudge would seem to refute this theory, unless Snape wishes to keep Dumbledore from knowing he went immediately to his master’s side. If this is the case, then Snape’s allegiances become even more uncertain.. However, it is also notable that Snape is not assigned to patrol the Maze at the Tri-Wizard Cup, making it more possible for him to have left unnoticed to Voldemort’s side. Likewise, the night of the Yule Ball, he is freely wandering. It seems thad Dumbledore may have been keeping Snape on low-profile throughout GoF in order to give him this chance, should Voldemort re-appear. I fail, however, to see why many people conclude that if Snape is not mentioned by Voldemort, he must be in the circle at that moment. The Dark Lord knows exactly what is going on at Hogwarts as he returns. He would know not to expect Snape to be able to get away immediately. This must have been the case in the months before his fall, when Snape was working at Hogwarts but still under his orders. Snape’s somewhat unusual position as a double-agent/spy might also allow for a private audience with the Dark Lord.
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Date: 2005-07-08 07:38 am (UTC)I especially liked your ideas about the Snape/Quirrell conversation in the forest, and the other DEs thinking Snape was the "most faithful servant."
I can't wait for Book 6!!