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

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 138604

Jen:
> I think Voldemort is behind the Unbreakable and Narcissa is the
> bait myself. 
 <snip>
> The clauses in that Unbreakable came out of Narcissa's mouth so
> rapidly and succintly, not much thinking going into those very
> important words. Almost like they were....rehearsed.
 
> Betsy Hp:
> Why would Voldemort need Snape to take an Unbreakable Vow?  If he 
> didn't trust him, he'd kill him.  End of problem.  And Snape has 
> already said that if (when) Draco fails he's expected to finish 
> the  job.  So it's not like Voldemort was trying to spring
> anything on him.

Jen: Snape is the only DE placed at Hogwarts who can follow through 
with the plan to kill DD when Draco fails. And Voldemort can't risk 
Dumbledore slipping through his fingers--he's the last major barrier 
(in his mind) to Harry. If he doubts Snape in any way, and he 
certainly has reason to regardless of what Snape tells Bella, 
Voldemort has to have insurance the job will get done. 

Snape makes that statement about finishing the job before he knows 
what the job is, and before he takes the UV. That looked like 
posturing to me.

Betsy:
> Adding to my earlier thought (see upthread) that Snape probably
> felt he'd already outlined the terms of the Vow, it was *Snape*
> who brought up that he figured Voldemort meant for him (Snape) to
> do the deed in the end.  So maybe Narcissa thought she was just
> being complete about the whole thing.

Jen: I saw Narcissa as more manipulative in the scene than you read 
her, I think. Perhaps it came from the way she treated Bella before 
getting to Snape's, but when she laid out that last portion of the 
vow, I read cold calculation in it.

> Betsy Hp:
> I never felt any unresolved sexual tension (UST) in this scene.  I 
> know others have, but I felt like Snape was more... embarrassed by 
> Narcissa's tears and desperation than anything.  

a_svirn:
> Yeah, I can't discern any *UST* between Snape and Narcissa either. 
> If there is any kind of tension during the Spinner's End scene 
it's between Bellatrix and Snape. Not unresolved, though.

houyhnhnm:
> I agree with you completely about the UST, though.  I didn't see
> any of it between him and Narcissa.  I would expect Snape to 
> handle his UST in the same cold, unemotional way he handles
> everything else, with the occasional trip to Knockturn Alley
> perhaps.

Jen: I'm really surprised no one felt there was sexual tension 
there, makes me wonder about my read on things 'cause shipping isn't 
my expertise for sure. But I was very much convinced of the tension 
when reading Neri's post on another forum, which he posted here 
today:
 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/138593

Betsy:
> Also, we've seen Snape when his emotions have control of him.  I 
> wouldn't expect him to be spitting with anger (like in PoA) but if 
> he was trying to deal with the focus of his obsession falling to 
her 
> knees in front of him I'd expect a bit more emoting on his part.  
> Instead he acts like a school master dealing with a distraught 
> student.  "Up off the floor now, and here drink this."  McGonagall 
> would have approved.  And that's not really a sign of hot times 
> ahead, IMO. <g>

Jen: He has emotional control during the scene, but look where he 
ended up! On the floor, kneeling in front of Narcissa and sealing 
his doom. What in the world would make him do that? He doesn't need 
to prove himself to either of these women if Voldemort trusts him as 
much as Snape says he does. He can look out for Draco without an UV. 
Something motivated him to make this huge error and I'm just 
searching for what that could possibly be. 

Jen