ESE!Snape - possible clue!

[davenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 135545

I just finished re-reading HBP, and something caught my about the 
scene on the Astronomy Tower.

When Malfoy tells Dumbledore that Snape made the Unbreakable Vow to 
his mother to help him, Dumbledore doesn't say "I know, I told him 
to" or "Yes, but he was bound to me already" or anything like that.  
He says "Of course he would tell you that."  In other words, 
Dumbledore didn't know about the vow, and thought Snape was lying to 
Malfoy.  I think this is a big check mark in the "Snape is Ever-So-
Evil" column.

THIS is the reason why Ch 2 is important. (Someone had recently 
questioned the need for the chapter.)  We KNOW that Snape made this 
vow, not just that he said he did.

JKR made the scene beautifully ambiguous, and I honestly prefer the 
many theories in which Snape's actions are far more complex than 
anyone yet realizes.  But I really have to wonder, if Snape was on 
DD's side all along, and killed him at his own request but against 
his own desires, why did he make the Vow and not tell Dumbledore?  
And why did he knock out Flitwick?  There is ample evidence that 
Snape is truly evil, though I would find this outcome probably less 
interesting than the many Hero!Snape stories concocted on the 'net.  
Although, it would be more satisfying for a huge jerk like Snape to 
end up being completely evil and destroyed by Harry. (Or maybe 
Wormtail.)

- davenclaw