Snape's stalling

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 116412


> Potioncat:
> Keep in mind that when he does the right thing, he makes it look 
> like the wrong thing.  Or at least doesn't make it clear what he is 
> doing.


Alla:

Very, very true.
 

Potioncat:
> But I am sure he went into the forest, swearing at the top of his 
> lungs, sending the dark, wee beasties scampering for their lives.


Alla:

Hee! It is a possibility.

 
> Potioncat:

snip.

> However, here is how I read it.  It is a matter of tense.  DD is 
> explaining the situation at one particular moment. Snape asked for 
a 
> group to go look at MoM, he asked for Black to stay at HQ, and he 
> intended to go search the forest.  At that moment, that was 
> everyone's plan.(Aurors go to MoM, Black stays put, Snape looks in 
> the forest.)


Alla:

Well, yes that WAS the plan and we all know how at least one third of 
the plan turned out (Black stays put), why can't that be that another 
third of the plan (Snape looks in the forest) also went wrong for 
whatever reason?



Potioncat:
 
> The only reason I could think of for DD to use intended to 
> mean "planned to but didn't" would be to skirt the truth.  Not 
that  
> he's never done that before.  As if DD spoke to Snape prior to 
> talking to Harry,"Severus, what did you find in the forest?"
> "Well, Headmaster, I intended to go, but I had to wash my hair 
first 
> and by the time I was done I found out that Potter really was at 
the 
> MoM."


Alla:

What can I say, Potioncat? You sure know one of main rules of 
succesful negotiation very well- make the other side say "YES" as 
many times as possible with very unconfrontational questions. :) Then 
the other side will be most likely to compromise on more important 
points. 

Indeed, the only reason for Dumbledore to say that and mean it would 
be to hide something . As you said it yourself, he did it already 
several times, why not now?

For the record, I think it is more likely that Snape went in the 
Forest than not, it is just this "intended" still naggs me,