Unbreakable vows

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 133573

 
> Brief Chronicles wrote:
> I don't feel it is McG, since she herself seemed ready to accept 
Snape had  
> betrayed them. I also don't think it would have been Sirius, as 
that's not 
> going  to do us much good in clearing Snape in the future 

zgirnius responds:
I like the Snape/DD UV theory a lot. It is a nice explanation for why 
DD trusts Snape so much. But I think it matters very much what the 
exact wording of the vow was. For example, suppose Snape swore, "I 
will never reveal the secrets of the Order to Voldemort or his 
followers without specific instructions from the Order", "I will 
never again serve Voldemort" (actually, this one has to be carefully 
phrased...wouldn't want our double-agent dropping dead after handing 
LV a drink or something...) and "I will do all I can to keep Harry 
safe and help Harry defeat Voldemort."

Note that the above is (one) reasonable set of vows to make under the 
circumstances, but it in no way precludes the killing of DD, 
*without* DD's consent, so long as it is not at the order of 
Voldemort. If there was no Snape/DD plan for Snape to kill DD, Snape 
still has an obvious, non-DE motive. He kills DD simply to save his 
own life (Draco has now failed...the UV to Cissy kicks in.) 

McGonagall, or any hypothetical other living Binder, is as upset as 
anyone over the turn of events. And probably busily trying to figure 
out what at all means about Snape's intentions/motivations...in 
particular, in this scenario, Snape can't exactly be "cleared". He 
did kill Dumbledore. But, he may still be of use to the Order and 
Harry, becasue he is still bound by his vow.