The "row" in the forest--what Snape doesn't want to do any more (Was: Mr. Snape

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 136954

SSSusan:
As I seem to be perpetually 200-300 posts behind, I realize this is a 
fairly dangerous thread to just drop down into, but I've read each 
post I can find in the thread.  That said, I really wanted to respond 
to an early part of the discussion, in which...

hermionegallo asked:
> It seems to me that in Spinner's End Snape thinks he's 
> agreeing to kill Harry, that he was agreeing to the Vow because he 
> needed to know what the plan was.  Do I need to re-read?  


SSSusan:
That that was MY read of this scene, too.  I think JKR wanted us 
readers to assume/wonder about whether it was Harry who was the 
target, and I've not yet encountered anything which has convinced me 
that Snape didn't think the very same thing, at first.  

Am I wrong about that?  Is there strong evidence that Snape knew the 
exact task facing Draco?


hermionegallo:
> My question going in is this: When does Snape discover what
> exactly he vowed to help Draco do (whom he vowed to help Draco
> kill)?
> <snip>
> I have a feeling that he realizes it on the Tower, although
> Dumbledore knew all along Draco's intended victim was him.
> <snip>

SSSusan:
My *opinion* is that Snape didn't take long to figure out it was DD, 
though I've not got an opinion as to how/when exactly he ascertained 
this.  Certainly he seems to understand it by the time of Draco's 
attempt w/ the poisoned wine??  Or am I assuming too much there as 
well?

hg or others, is there a reason why you believe Snape didn't know 
*until* the Tower?

Now, to bring this back to the issue of the row in the forest, I am 
intrigued by the possibilities put forth by Saraquel and Lupinlore:

Saraquel:
> IMO, what Snape wants out of, is having to put himself into
> situations like the UV in order to spy for DD. (You see here I am
> arguing an evil Snape on the side of good :-) ) Perhaps the `You
> take too much for granted" remark is about just how far into life-
> threatening danger Snape has to take himself in order to continue to
> convince Voldemort that he isn't a double-agent, and that it can
> only get more and more difficult and dangerous.

Lupinlore:
> Now, we have speculated long before this that Snape may have a
> mission from Dumbledore to watch over Harry. Perhaps that is what he
> doesn't want to do anymore? Certainly his feelings for Harry seem to
> have been aggravated by the Occlumency incident, not to mention 
> their interactions in DADA.
<snip>
> Thus Snape is forced to continue his (to him) humiliating task of
> watching over the (to him) arrogant and irresponsible Harry Potter.

SSSusan:
Both of these are intriguing.  I had considered a variation of what 
Saraquel has suggested -- the Snape's just TIRED of doing all this 
dangerous stuff -- though I was convinced it was partly because he 
didn't like doing stuff that was not only dangerous to himself but to 
DD.  So I guess I'd not go so far as to call that arguing for an evil 
Snape on the side of good?

I'll admit I'd *never* thought of the possiblity Bob raised -- that 
Snape wanted out of the job of protecting Harry.  Hmmm.  Could he be 
NON-ESE!Snape and ask for this release?  Or would his request for 
release from this duty necessarily mean he's ESE?

Siriusly Snapey Susan, doing a whole lot of head-scratching these days