Nature of the Vow:

[ornadv]

No: HPFGUIDX 145434

>Steve/bboyminn:
>Perhaps, it is your own mind and your own belief that is the Judge,
>Jury, and Executioneer of the Vow.


Orna:
I would like to add that since the vow is between two people, 
perhaps also the vow-requester has to believe in it, and has a say 
in the strength of the compulsion. The other person doesn't have to 
be there, but the Judge, Jury and executioner of the Vow could be 
something in you which represents also the other half of the bound 
person. If you or the other person would think the vow is due, under 
the circumstances – the compulsion gets stronger. Perhaps that's the 
meaning of the hands and the flames with the bond – some 
mind/feeling-sharing, which enables/pressures the vower to take into 
consideration the other persons judgment on the issue. Perhaps 
something like Harry's flashes of Voldemort's feeling in OotP. 
Looking at this from this POV, it explains  also why the tower scene 
would be so much of putting the vow into action – Draco being 
surrounded by DE witnessing his inability (as they understand it) to 
kill DD, would drive Narcissa to the most extreme pressure – she 
wouldn't accept any excuse for postponement. Well, except the hair-
wash <g>

>Steve/bboyminn
 >As long as you can create an
>internal mindset and belief that there is still hope of fulfilling 
>the Vow, as un-rational as it might be, you could hold off the
>consequences for as long as you could maintain the belief.

>As long as Snape believes, while Draco isn't killing Dumbledore in 
>the moment, that he will kill Dumbledore at some point, then the Vow
>hasn't been broken.

Orna:
Still, even like that - the longer you fool around with the vow - 
the more damaged you get. It does have consequences – since it means 
tampering with your own mind – instead of thinking sharp and 
precise, it means splitting or diffusing your thought. I imagine it 
might interfere somehow with abilities, not to mention the mental 
energy required for this "stereo thinking". Snape, as an occlument, 
should have the basic requirements for such an enterprise. 
I think that would explain Snape's willingness to risk such a Vow – 
he is extremely good at controlling his mind, shutting feelings of, 
and basically the abilities needed for tampering with a UV are quite 
in line of a double spy's abilities.
I find it important to be able to imagine that Snape took the UV 
with some vague idea of finding a way out, because if the UV is an 
iron-cast situation, IMO he should have found a way to slither out 
of action, on the dark lord's orders....  

>Steve/bboyminn
>Given the level of 'Snape' discussion, I think we can all agree that
>JKR has done a remarkable job of creating doubt about Snape. On one
>hand, so many clues that he is Dumbledore's Man, yet, on the other
>hand, so much doubt at to his true allegance. You have to admit, it
>has been a masterful bit of storytelling.

Orna:
Admit - happily! 

Orna