The function of Chapter Two

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 138954

Betsy Hp wrote:
"The denouement on the Astronomy Tower would have been that much more
confusing if we hadn't had the set-up of this chapter."

Del replies:
I really don't know about that. Personally, I find the set-up in
Spinners' End way too vague and even downright confusing sometimes to
be of any use when trying to figure out what happened on the Astronomy
Tower.

In particular, the fact that the Task (killing DD) is NEVER spelled
out to Snape, added to the questions Snape keeps asking Draco
throughout the school year, lead me to doubt whether Snape EVER knew
what Draco's Task was precisely, up until he arrived on the top of the
Astronomy Tower, saw Draco pointing his wand at DD, and heard the
other DEs saying that there was a problem with Draco not being able to
do his part.

If the Task had been clearly spelled out (we the readers didn't need
to know, JKR could just write that "Snape's eyes flashed as Narcissa
revealed to him what task the DL had appointed to Draco", or something
like that), or if it had become clear during the year that Snape had
finally figured out what the Task was, then I would agree that it was
all making the denouement clearer.

As it stands, though, I disagree. I actually think that a Snape who
had taken no Vow, who was under no obligation to anyone, and who took
advantage of a sick and weak DD to finally reveal his true side, would
have been much clearer.

JMO, obviously.

Del