Snape's predicament: The DADA jinx and the Unbreakable Vow

[greenfirespike]

No: HPFGUIDX 136554


Marianne S. said:

> I wonder, then, could Dumbledore have already been dying (from the 
injury relating to the ring[my insert])? Could Snape have known that 
whatever was in that ring was, in fact, slowly killing Dumbledore? 

<snip>

> So I wonder... is Snape himself in on this plan? Surely if Harry is 
going to go after horcruxes that are guided by terrible, terrible 
poisons and curses... he's going to need The Half Blood Prince's 
wisdom with potions. 


Greenfirespike says:

The key question are.  1) Does Snape know about the horcruxes?  2) 
Does Snape know/is he suspicious that DD (and now Harry) are after 
them?  3) Does Snape know how many there are?  4) Does LV know DD 
was/Harry is after the horcruxes?  

1)  Does Snape know about the horcruxes?  We don't have direct 
evidence that he knows.  So, how can he find out?  A)  DD tells him 
and we don't know yet.  B) LV tells him and we don't know yet.  C) 
Snape does a little Occlumency on either DD, LV, or Harry as he flees 
with Draco.  D) Snape figures it out because DD has to tell him 
information about the ring in order to help save his own life.  E) 
Snape puts it together from his general involvement with LV and his 
knowledge of the dark arts.  F) (Rework E) Snape knows because of his 
general involvement with LV, knowledge of the dark arts, and because 
LV sends Snape into Hogwarts not just to spy, but to also acquire 
artifacts from the house founders.  

I think the best evidence supports B or E.  I am without my books 
presently, so I may be incorrect, but I believe that during the 
graveyard scene in GoF, LV rants a little to the present DEs, and 
says something along the lines of
you all doubted me, you, who knew 
of the steps I had taken to avoid death. (PLEASE forgive any massive 
misquote, and correct if you know)  I think we would all like to know 
a little bit more about how LV runs the show.  Does he share his 
plans with all of his top persons, or does he hide it?  Spinner's End 
seems to imply (despite what Snape says) that LV only tells persons 
involved about the plans.  

2) Does Snape know/is he suspicious that DD (and now Harry) are after 
them?  Once again, this all depends on how much information DD gives 
Snape about the ring, how much LV told his DE's about his plans for 
immortality, and Snape's general knowledge of the dark arts.

3) Does Snape know how many there are?  My bet is that he doesn't 
know.  It is what gives Harry time.

4)  Does LV know DD was/Harry is after the horcruxes?  My bet is also 
that he doesn't know.  But he might find out pretty soon.  My only 
problem with him not knowing is that part of his soul was destroyed 
with the ring, and LV doesn't feel a thing that we know about.  But 
if he felt it, he knows the search is on.