Snape's Vow: Why? (Re: Snape: the Riddle...(and Spinner's End)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 136626

> >>lealess:
> I think he took the vow for two reasons:
> 1) a calculated gamble to find out more information about Draco's 
> task, as part of his job as a spy;
> 2) genuine curiosity as part of his nature (trailing the          
> Marauders, for example, if that is true, and willingness to       
> explore beyond what the book says).

Betsy Hp:
Mmmm...  That seems like a *huge* gamble to me.  I'm of the opinion 
that even if Snape didn't know Draco's task going into the Spinner's 
End interview, he knew it before he took the Vow.  Because he's 
putting his *life* on the line with the Vow.  And couldn't he have 
accomplished the same thing by merely assuring Narcissa that he 
would look out for Draco?  That would give him whatever in he deemed 
necessary for questioning Draco, IMO.  "Ask your mother, Draco, I'm 
here to help you."

> >>Rae_nd:
> I read the final action of "Spinner's End" (one of my favorite all
> time HP chapters) as Snape being pressured into the Vow by Bella's
> suspicions. No matter where his loyalties lie, the questioning of 
> his motives could be dangerous for him. Bellatrix' shock upon the
> completion of the Vow shows me that she may have to grudgingly    
> admit that Snape is on Voldemort's side 100%.

Betsy Hp:
My problem with that take on the situation is isn't Snape going 
*against* Voldemort by taking the Vow?  Everyone, Bellatrix 
included, says that Draco is meant to take this task on *alone*.  
Isn't Snape going around Voldemort in Vowing to help Draco?
(This chapter is one of my favorite too. <g> Though it's running 
neck and neck with "Sectumsempra".)

> >>Leslie41:
> <snip>
> You see by the end of the novel that Snape has indeed become the
> acknowledged leader of the Death Eaters. In the absence of        
> Voldemort they do what he says without question. So that much has 
> been accomplished by the Unbreakable Vow, among other things.

Betsy Hp:
Is that caused by the Unbreakable Vow?  I thought Snape was 
considered Voldemort's "Death Eater of the year" before Narcissa and 
Bellatrix show up on his doorstep.  Yes, Bellatrix shows doubt, but 
I imagine she's a bit low on the totem pole at this point, what with 
her involvement in the DoM fiasco.

> >>Leslie41:
> I personally think he wasn't aware of the construct of the task for
> Draco when Bellatrix and Narcissa arrived. And when he offers to  
> help it's his way of getting an "in" on the situation with Draco at
> Hogwarts, to better have an excuse for keeping an eye on him.
> Narcissa brings up the Unbreakable Vow, which truthfully I don't  
> think Snape was thinking of at that point. But when she mentions  
> it his face is "blank, unreadable." He's thinking.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Oh yes, I totally agree that Snape's mind is *racing* when he's 
asked to take the Vow.  And so I think he *must* have a very good 
reason, in his opinion, for taking it.  I just... 

Well, maybe I'm mistaken in thinking that Voldemort seriously wants 
Draco to die in his attempt to kill Dumbledore.  Because if 
Voldemort *does* hold out some hope of Draco succeeding (Draco, as 
Dumbledore points out, *is* an innocent and so might succeed in 
slipping under Dumbledore's guard) then I can see Voldemort being 
thrilled by Snape's willingness to help Draco achieve his task.  And 
it would also mean that the Death Eaters would see him as being 
seriously *on task* rather than running behind Voldemort's back to 
help out a damsel in distress (in Death Eater fashion, of course). 

> >>Leslie41:
> He understands at that moment that he might have to kill          
> Dumbledore. But I think he also understands that Dumbledore       
> himself would have--at that moment--agreed and encouraged him to  
> take the vow to accomplish just what the vow accomplishes.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I think Snape was also willing for himself to die, if it kept Draco 
safe, and helped him provide necessary information to the Order.  (I 
honestly think Snape was willing to die for Dumbledore.  Which makes 
his actions at the end of HBP that much more painful.)   I think 
that even if the Vow was taken mainly to give Snape room to keep 
Draco safe (though I'm starting to rethink that theory) Dumbledore 
would have been all for it.  He's a big one for saving innocents, is 
Dumbledore.

(I also agree that Dumbledore was dying in his very first scene.  A 
magical injury that never gets better is a bad sign for future 
health, IMO.)

Betsy Hp