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

[anna_ktrn]

No: HPFGUIDX 136737

Betsy Hp wrote:
> 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?

Anna: 
To me, the vow highlighted just how self-centered Snape is. Snape does not 
think of Draco, or Dumbledore, or Bellatrix. The entire dialogue is about 
"Here's how I won the Dark Lord's trust", and "Here's how I won 
Dumbledore's trust", "I know all about the task that Draco has been 
assigned", "The Dark Lord intended me to do it anyway". Snape believes 
that neither Harry Potter nor Albus Dumbledore but one Severus Snape is 
foremost in Voldemort's mind. 

Narcissa's request to make the Unbreakable Vow takes him by surprise (his 
blank expression), as do the stipulations of the Vow (his twitching hand, 
the moment of silence). He follows through because Bellatrix goades him. 
We know how easily he is goaded, especially when his courage is in 
question. Apparently, he also believes that, ultimately, Voldemort will be 
so pleased with Dumbledore's death that he will honour the killer, never 
mind who the killer was.  

What we have here is a Snape who seemingly manipulates the Black sisters 
as masterfully as any spy could hope for, only to end up with his own 
death warrant - unless he kills the one wizard his own master has ever 
feared. Snape's over-confidence is his ultimate downfall. Meanwhile, 
Narcissa Malfoy got what she came for: A way out for her son.  

> > >>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 
> 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.

Anna: 
I see no evidence that Dumbledore would have enouraged Snape, or anyone 
else, to bind himself irrevocably. He asks Harry for his word, before they 
venture into the cave. He does not bind Harry or otherwise removes Harry's 
free will. Dumbledore is the epitome of choice. Once Snape made the vow, 
he had no more choice than a house elf. I can not see Dumbledore 
encouraging anyone to do that.