Unbreakable Vow Truly Unbreakable

[ceridwennight]

No: HPFGUIDX 138869

> It occurred to me that the Unbreakable Vow might function separate
> from the will of the person making the vow, i.e., that taking the Vow
> sets a certain course of action in motion.  This would be similar to
> firing a gun at someone: even if the person firing the gun changes his
> mind after firing it, there is no way he can alter the course of the
> bullet.  So, when Snape promised to fulfill the third part of Draco's
> task upon Draco's failure, the bullet left the gun and Dumbledore was
> effectively dead, either at Snape's hand or at Draco's, unless both of
> them were eliminated.  The Vow itself would eliminate further choice
> on Snape's part, even if he did not know what he was vowing to do. 
> The Vow would assume agency, acting as a sort of Imperius Curse,
> supplanting the will of the person who made it.
> 
> Possible?
> 
> lealess

Ceridwen:
I've wondered that, too.  Could the DEs informing Snape of Draco's 
perceived inability, have activated the vow, forcing Snape to kill 
Dumbledore?  This would also explain the look on his face.

Interesting that you mention the Imperius Curse in connection.  At one 
point, a young boy (nine years old? younger?) is arrested for trying to 
kill his grandparents.  They suspected he was under Imperius, or they 
knew it, I don't recall offhand.  When I re-read that part, it jumped 
out at me, having already finished the book off once.  Though I 
wondered at that point (still do wonder, though thouroughly believe 
that DD wouldn't, and JKR wouldn't make him) if Dumbledore Imperio'd 
Snape on the tower, to do it.  I just keep getting the nagging 
impression that Imperius plays a part.

And speaking of boys in their single digit years, Ron said the twins 
tried to get him to make a UV with them.  Put them together, you might 
get a glimpse of a tree, a bit of ground, and lake water in a puzzle.  
Ron said that breaking a UV kills the bondee.  But, things said by 
another student aren't always right.  That's what Ron thought.  But 
what if a UV forces the bondee to fulfill itself, rather than punishing 
them when they don't?  Arthur would still have been as horrified and 
angry when he found out what the twins were trying to do.

And, the name of the vow itself, 'Unbreakable'.  Being able to go 
against it would make the name ill-fitting.  If it is Unbreakable, then 
no one can go against it.  It will see to it that its provisions are 
fulfilled.  There will be no chance of someone breaking it, since 
breaking the vow is impossible.  Which sounds like it removes choice, 
and could indeed act like an Imperius Curse.  It also sounds horrible!

Ceridwen.