Did Snape have a choice or not? Levels and contradictions in JKR's writing

[ellecain]

No: HPFGUIDX 138376

>Larry:

> Of course Snape had a choice, he could have ignored
> her request, or even refused outright. What was the
> downside, Bella would think poorly of him?, and her
> opinion he values as highly as he values his own life?

>houyhnhnm:

>If Snape is *not* aware of Voldemort's plan before the sisters came 
to
>his house, then what he learns at the very beginning of the 
interview
>is that there is a plot involving Draco.  A plot involving Draco 
means
>a plot against Hogwarts.  Snape may feel that he is justified in 
using
>any means necessary to obtain information, in that case.

Elyse:
Im afraid I have to agree with Larry here.
Snape is an extremely intelligent person and also a Slytherin
("given the choice we always choose to save our own necks").

If Snape had  no idea of what Dracos task was, I doubt he would be 
stupid enough to risk his life with a UV just to
get information on what it was.
I mean info was important but not as important as his life surely?
He could have used Legilimency, Veritaserum, any number of other 
methods to find out what Voldy was making Draco do.
This forces me to conclude that Snape knew about the task.

He surely must have told Dumbledore as soon as he found out.
And DD being the merciful man that he is would have thought of 
trying to save Draco while saving himself.
However I dont think he had come up with any sort of plan
when Snape took the UV.
I think he must have been shocked and angry when Snape told him what 
he had done.

But once the UV was taken it was perfectly clear what was going to 
happen.
DD could save Draco by letting Snape kill him, 
or he could save himself and let Draco and Snape die.
So once Snape stepped into the tower he knew how it could have 
played out.
But DD staying alive was pointless without his Ace card:
Snape in the DE inner circle.
So I think the pleading was asking Snape to kill him.

As for Snape's motivations in taking the UV,
I'm afraid I must agree with Larry again and backtrack on what I 
said before.
He had a choice. He chose to take the vow.
I believe this may be explained by the whole
Narcissa-the-rich-influential-pureblood-at-the-mercy-of
Snape-the-poor-unpopular-bullied-halfblood.
I guess the temptation to prove himself superior
with the sudden reversal of roles was too much for old Sevvie.

On another matter

Lupinlore:
>In terms of your tolerance for contradiction, I think the situation 
>is more complicated.  Both Good!Snape and Evil!Snape face a number 
>of 
>plot holes and contradictions.  You can either try to solve these 
>holes and contradictions in a way that supports your position or 
>you 
>can simply take the position that the saga will have numerous holes 
>and contradictions regardless of how it comes out.


*Sigh* 
You have spelled out my worst fear Lupinlore.
Im afraid Book 7 will have large gaping plotholes
The more Good!Snape/ESE!Snape speculation continues,
the more convinced I become that 
JKR has not thought this through!!!!
I just hope that I am proved wrong.

Sorry about rambling, will not happen again
Elyse