Snape: the Riddle

[eggplant107]

No: HPFGUIDX 136064

"severelysigune" <severelysigune at y...> wrote:

> It is to impress her [Bellatrix] that Snape
> agrees to the Vow.

I think Snape made the vow because it cost him nothing to do so (he
was planning to help Draco anyway vow or no vow)  and it alleviated
Bellatrix's suspicions; she was after all a powerful witch who was
close to Voldemort, if she had been constantly whispering in
Voldemort's ear about how disloyal Snape was that couldn't be good for
him.  
 
> If Snape's aim was to kill Dumbledore, 
> why should he first give Draco a chance?

Why not? Snape knew that killing Dumbledore would be dangerous so if
Draco managed to pull it off before he could all the better. And
besides, that's the way Voldemort wanted it.  

> How about if he had said, "Terribly 
> sorry Headmaster, but that thing 
> with your hand - impossible to heal.
> It was an honour to have worked 
> with you. Rest in peace." But he doesn't. 

We don't know what he said, we know almost none of the circumstances
when Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts with his injury or exactly what
Snape did or did not do, so I cannot comment. 

> I really can't see what Snape stands 
> to gain by Dumbledore's death.

If Snape wants to rule the wizard world, and I think he does, then he
must first kill the two wizards who are more powerful than he is. One
down one to go. This also explains why Snape saved Harry's life in
book 1, he knew he was the only one who could kill Voldemort because
he heard the ENTIRE prophecy. I always thought it was a little too
convenient that the eavesdropper heard the part about the boy who
would grow up to kill Voldemort but was thrown out an instant before
it became clear that attacking the infant now would be disastrous for
the Dark Lord. 

Eggplant