"We can't do a damned thing for Vance," Snape confirmed flatly. There was no way in hell he was going to risk his agent's cover, or a rescue mission, over someone who could easily have already been killed.
"And as for what they knew, how about the identities of Hogwarts' leaders? They would have guessed me, but you and James would have been news to them. They also wouldn't have known for certain about our civilian leadership or the way we've arranged the floors, or the dragon camp or a great many other organizational details."
He inclined his head in faintly-mocking acknowledgement of Moody's point about letting him do the talking. "I daresay the news would be taken more easily coming from you than from me." he replied coolly.
Really, Snape reflected, in times like these, it's so much easier just to keep Occluding. So much more efficient, not to have to bother with stupid irrelevancies like kindness or empathy.