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

[Rebecca Hoskins]

No: HPFGUIDX 136575

Firstly, I'd like to say that Carole's essay on Snape was excellent. 
Both perceptive and well-written, and tells far more eloquently than 
I could have done exactly my take on the position of Snape during the 
chapter 'Spinner's End'.

Carol wrote:
> Whether he tells Dumbledore about this scene or not (and I think he
> does), the jinx on the DADA position has already struck. Whatever
> happens, Severus Snape will not return to Hogwarts the following 
> year. Voldemort's vengeance has found its mark.

A very good point. Dumbledore of course knew of this jinx - I wonder 
whether he thought to tell Snape of it, and I wonder whether he 
realised that Snape's span as DADA treacher could not exceed three 
terms. I can only assume that he did and that he knew of the 
unbreakable vow. It was my impression upon a first reading of HBP 
that Dumbledore could have easily escaped the death eaters should he 
have really wanted to.

Marianne S:  
> Snape told the women that Dumbledore has suffered an injury, that is
> "reflexes" are not what they were.  Of course, he does not tell 
them that it was he, Severus, who kept Dumbledore from dying as a 
>result of the cursed ring, which means they also do not know that 
> Dumbledore is after horcruxes. 

I actually doubt whether Snape knew about the horcruxes. I suspect 
that only Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione and Ron know about that 
apporach to Voldemort's immortality (and Slughorn too, if he thinks 
about it hard - which he may not as that would involve acknowledging 
his (perceived) part in Voldemort's rise to power). 
It is, after all, vitally important that Voldemort does not get wind 
of this part fo the plan. So the fewer people that know about ti, the 
better.


Marianne S 
> But to kill Dumbledore... of course he had to agree to that in 
>front of the women.

Absolutely. JKR doesn't seem to add details for no reason. His hand 
must have twitched for a reason - and I expect that he had previously 
had no intention of taking a vow to kill Dumbledore. The sudden 
inclusion of this clause would have been a great shock.
Now, we can argue that this was simply because it would cause Snape 
to have to do something very dangerous that would bring about the end 
of his quiet days and hogwarts and lead to him being hunted down by 
the ministry. But, of course, it could simply be that he is loyal to 
Dumbledore. That being the case it would be a truly terrible moment 
for Snape: he cannot back out without giving himself away as a spy 
(something that would not only put him in great danger but would also 
make him useless to Dumbledore), but to make the vow would also be a 
terrible thing.

And think also, how terrible it would be for Snape (if he is indeed 
loyal to Dumbledore) having killed Dumbledore, fleeing with the death 
eaters, returning to Voldemort and having to pretend he's pleased 
with what has happened. To be grieving for the death of a friend/ 
mentor when you've caused that death against your will, and not to be 
able to show it or confide in another living soul. It would be 
terrible indeed. it would make Snape one of the most pittiable 
characters in all the HP books.
Of course, he might well be a true death eater. And it's going to be 
a very long two years until we discover the truth!

  
 Marianne S
> I wonder, then, could Dumbledore have already been dying? Could 
>Snape have known that whatever was in that ring was, in fact, slowly 
>killing Dumbledore? We know that Dumbledore is a very old man... we 
>know he's not afraid of death...so I imagine, as Carol did, that 
>Snape told Dumbledore of the vow. I would surmise that Dumbledore 
>knew he had to die, something he was ready for...

I got the impression that Dumbledore was ready to die, a hunch that 
was more or less confirmed by JKR during her Edinburgh interview of 
19th July.

Marianne S 
> 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. 

More thoughts exactly. But will he return to the room of requiremnet 
to retrieve the book? Or will he no longer want to be associated with 
it now that he knows that it was written by Snape?

Rebecca