121
" Dealing with Phineas Nigellus Black is rather like having Snape around. He is snide, waspish, and quick to take offense. But as the portrait of Armando Dippet says, portraits of former headmasters are “honor-bound to give service to the present headmaster of Hogwarts.” (HP/OotP, 473) After the first time Hermione blindfolds him, he declares he will never return, but that decision is not his to make. Through this connection, Snape learns that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are alive. In return, they learn that Dumbledore used the sword of Gryffindor to kill a Horcrux, that Dumbledore’s Army is still active, that Snape sends them to Hagrid for detentions, and that Ginny has been banned from Hogsmeade visits. Anytime Phineas Nigellus asks for hints about their location, Hermione puts the painting away, but Snape manages to get them some information and assurance that Ginny is safe. "
― Lorrie Kim , Snape: A Definitive Reading
129
" When it’s finally safe for him to give in to the visions of Voldemort’s surroundings, he sees the same light that he saw at the beginning of his sixth year, coming late to school after being attacked on the Hogwarts Express: “Voldemort was at the gates of Hogwarts; Harry could see him standing there, and see too the lamp bobbing in the pre-dawn, coming closer and closer.” (HP/DH, 499) Snape is coming to let Voldemort in. After nearly 500 pages of absence, he reenters the story. Now that Harry has learned Occlumency, now that Voldemort fears contact with Harry’s mind and isn’t aware that Harry can see his thoughts, it is safe for Snape and Harry to connect again. Snape cannot be certain that Harry has mastered Occlumency, but he knows that Voldemort will never again read Harry’s thoughts, and he knows what it looks like in Harry’s mind when Harry reads Voldemort’s thoughts. He must suspect that when Voldemort looks at him, Harry might see him, too. The light coming closer and closer is to welcome in Harry as well as Voldemort. Harry and Snape have closed in on Voldemort from either side. From this moment, Voldemort is doomed. "
― Lorrie Kim , Snape: A Definitive Reading