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In the first book of Harry Potter, it is revealed that Snape was not trying to curse Harry's broom; he was trying to save him. But we also learn that Professor Quirrell was behind it the whole time, with Voldemort living behind his turban. Voldemort probably knew everything happening around Quirrell, so why didn't he punish Snape for betraying him and helping Harry?

Alexandrang
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Warning: spoilers for Book 6.

This is addressed in Chapter 2 of Half-Blood Prince.

In this scene, Bellatrix is questioning Snape's loyalty to Voldemort. She's basically questioning every decision Snape has made since Voldemort's first defeat. Here's his response to his actions during the first book

“I think you next wanted to know,” he pressed on, a little more loudly, for Bellatrix showed every sign of interrupting, “why I stood between the Dark Lord and the Sorcerer’s Stone. That is easily answered. He did not know whether he could trust me. He thought, like you, that I had turned from faithful Death Eater to Dumbledore’s stooge. He was in a pitiable condition, very weak, sharing the body of a mediocre wizard. He did not dare reveal himself to a former ally if that ally might turn him over to Dumbledore or the Ministry. I deeply regret that he did not trust me. He would have returned to power three years sooner. As it was, I saw only greedy and unworthy Quirrell attempting to steal the stone and, I admit, I did all I could to thwart him.”

Snape is claiming (falsely of course) that since Voldemort didn't explicitly reveal himself to Snape, he was unaware of who Quirrell really was, and therefore didn't know he was opposing Voldemort.

Since Voldemort believed Snape's story, there was no punishment needed.

Alarion
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  • Snape is claiming (falsely of course) that since Voldemort didn't explicitly reveal himself to Snape, he was unaware of who Quirrell really was, and therefore didn't know he was opposing Voldemort. Do you mean by this that Snape really did know that Quirrel was hosting Voldemort the whole time? – Alex Dec 02 '20 at 00:40
  • I guess it's never out right stated that he did. But to me, it makes sense that Dumbledore and Snape had to know. In one of Snape's memories shown in book 7, Dumbledore says (to Snape) ‘Keep an eye on Quirrell, won’t you?’. Dumbledore is presented as an extremely intelligent and perceptive wizard. To me, his coy "keep an eye" is the equivalent to anyone else saying "I've figured out that Voldemort is hiding in Quirrell's hat. We should take care of that." – Alarion Dec 02 '20 at 16:46