Dumbledore’s spy at Spinner’s End

[kempermentor]

No: HPFGUIDX 132923

US Hard p32—

Narcissa:  "The Dark Lord has forbidden me to speak of it
 He wishes 
none to know of the plan.  It is
 very secret.  But—"
Snape:  "If he has forbidden it, you ought not to speak
 The Dark 
Lord's word is law."


Snape:  "It so happens that I know of the plan.  I am one of the few 
the Dark Lord has told.  Nevertheless, had I not been in on the 
secret, Narcissa, you would have been guilty of treachery to the Dark 
Lord."

Snape gave no evidence of knowledge regarding what it was Draco was 
ordered to do.  He seems unaware of the plan and seems to be 
attempting to glean what the plan is from Narcissa by playing that he 
knows the plan.  Snape trusts that Narcissa is right that the Dark 
Lord `wishes none to know the plan'.
  
Earlier (US Hard p30)--
Snape: "Have you discussed [sparing Harry's life] with the Dark Lord?"
Bella:  "He
lately, we
 I am asking you, Snape!"

Here, Snape can easily infer that Bella is not too confident 
regarding her status with the Dark Lord.  So, Snape can guess that 
she is not supposed to be in on the plan either.  This would mean 
that Snape could successfully lie about knowing the plan because 
neither Bella, who is not suppose to know the plan, and Narcissa, who 
is not to tell the plan, would talk to the Dark Lord about their 
conversations with Snape about the plan.

But what about the fight in the forest between Dumbledore and Snape 
that Hagrid overheard a part of?  

Well it was just a part of the fight/argument that he overheard.  It 
reminds me of the misdirection we, as readers, witnessed in PS/SS 
between Snape and Querrelmort.  I think the argument could easily 
have been Dumbledore demanding/asking Snape to kill when he, Snape, 
knows the time is right or is asked to by Dumbledore.  This is so: 
Draco doesn't become a murderer and Snape lives (fulfilling the 
Unbreakable Vow).

`But Snape AK'd Dumbledore
'

Yes
 but was Snape's intention to kill behind the Killing Curse.  He 
has the power, but does he have the will?  How many times have we 
seen any kind of spell/charm/hex/whatever fail because the intention 
wasn't there, even though the incantation was stated?  Here's how it 
could have gone.

Snape says AK outloud though not meaning it, and he uses a nonverbal 
(nvbl) spell to throw Dumbledore into a Death-like Sleep.  This spell 
is one developed by Snape, maybe with some assistance from 
Dumbledore.  We have already seen throughout the book that Snape, the 
Half Blood Prince, has a knack for potion improvement and spell 
creation. 

But Dumbledore pleaded for his life.

Dumbledore: `Severus
 please
'

`Pleaded' is Harry's perspective.  But instead of pleading for his 
life perhaps he was pleading for Snape to follow through with their, 
Dumbledore and Snape's, plan.  This obviously contradicts my last 
possibility if in fact Snape does AK Dumbledore.  But I want to 
believe that Snape would have rather died than to follow Dumbledore's 
directive for Snape to kill him.  

Other reasons why Snape may still be working for Dumbledore (dead or 
alive):

1. Snape knew nothing of the Death Eater invasion of Hogwarts.  Did 
the Dark Lord not trust Snape? 

2. Dumbledore could have died, making the plan easier for Draco, had 
Snape not saved Dumbledore after Dumbledore retrieved the ring and 
suffered the curse that left his arm burnt or withered.

Perhaps I don't want to believe that Dumbledore is really dead or 
that Snape is evil.  But I think I want to believe that Dumbledore's 
greatest strength is giving others a second chance: that this 
beautiful quality is not a `weakness'.

Kemper