Malice and Ulterior Motives

[amiabledorsai]

No: HPFGUIDX 138792

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> >Vmonte:  
> Snape's hand twitches and he pauses.  His hesitancy shows he
> understands that he may regret this decision.  But he was backed  
> into a corner.  Showing his intentions to be anything other than for 
> the Dark Lord and the protection of his own, especially in front of 
> Bellatrix would certainly have meant his death.  
>  
> >Jen: Now this part I can't agree with. Bella is out of favor with 
> the Dark Lord. Narcissa has no clout because of Lucius' mistakes. 
> Neither of the women are supposed to be there talking to Snape to 
> begin with, according to Narcissa. Narcissa strokes Snape's ego with 
> all the many ways he's the Dark Lord's favorite and when the DE's 
> defer to him on the tower, it appears he does have some power in the 
> ranks.  So what were the women holding over his head? Not much. 
> *They* should have been worried he would turn them into Voldemort 
> for treason. The UV wasn't completed, he could have turned the 
> tables on them and thrown them out, saying he was going to report 
> them to Voldemort.
> 
> vmonte:
> But he didn't. Snape's vanity brought him down. Narcissa "in a way" 
> manipulated Snape by stroking his ego. The spinner brought down by a 
> black-widow spider! HA

Amiable Dorsai:
Myself, I thought it was a question of "In for a penny, in for a
pound," but I love your imagery.  

I've come to believe there were several levels operating here: Snape
was lying when he told Narcissa that he already knew what Draco's task
was to be, I feel certain of that.  He lied in hopes of drawing more
information out of her without having Bella blow a gasket.

Why agree to the Unbreakable Vow?
1. He thought that whatever Draco's task was to be, knowledge of it
was worth the risk of his life--either because he was loyal to
Dumbledore, or because he hoped to cement a shaky position with
Voldemort, or just because knowledge is power.

2. A beautiful woman was begging him, practically throwing herself at
him. (If you don't think this would affect a man, Slytherin or no
Slytherin, especially one who is not used to such attention, I suggest
you think again.  Testosterone is tricky stuff.)

3. He gets to score off Bella the Bitch.  

4. Lucius is out of the picture.  Narcissa is wealthy and
well-connected.  She will owe him a huge favor...

5. Why agree to the last bit? What could Bella hold over him?  Well,
at that moment, the more than a little crazy witch who managed to take
out three Aurors at the DoM was holding her wand over him.

Pick one, pick 'em all, your choice.  I choose all of the above.

Amiable Dorsai