ESE!Snape - possible clue!

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 135551

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "davenclaw" <daveshardell at y...> 
wrote:
> 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

zgirnius:
Well, I'm going to use up my third post today to try and restore your 
ability to consider the more complex theories you prefer <grin>.

The events which occur in Chapter 2 regard an *important secret* of 
the Bad Guys. The only three participants of that conversation all 
agree that Draco's task is a big secret they are not supposed to be 
talking to *anyone* about. I doubt that Bella and/or Cissy go around 
telling all and sundry about the Vow and the Task. Bella would not 
want to jeopardize the task, since it is LV's will. Narcissa would 
not want to jeopardize the task, as it would make Draco's job harder. 
And anyway, how likely is either of them to talk with DD?

Snape does talk about it to Draco (since he needs to gain Draco's 
trust to learn more about Draco's specific plans). If Snape is 
a "good guy", he would, as you say, also have told DD about this at 
some point. (Possibly the reason for the famous argument overheard by 
Hagrid?) But that (hypothetical) conversation would of course need to 
be a secret from the Bad Guys. Snape *should not* be discussing 
matters regarding LV's Big Secret Plot with DD if he is a loyal DE.

At the moment DD tells Draco "Of course that is what he would tell 
you, Draco", what is the situation? DD, Draco, and a frozen, 
invisible Harry are alone. Draco, while clearly wavering, has not 
made a final decision yet, and there are other DEs at Hogwarts who 
might burst in at any moment (as in fact they do soon after). DD 
knows he is badly weakened by the potion/cursed arm/pick your 
favorite reason. So he must consider the possibility that in the 
immediate future he will be killed by Draco, and Draco will then 
leave with the DEs to report back to LV. Where he will certainly 
report back on that final conversation. If Draco tells LV that Snape 
had discussed the UV with DD, Snape's cover would be jeopardized. If 
Draco can sneeringly confirm to LV that DD bought Snape's act hook, 
line, and sinker, it strengthens Snape's position.

I personally do not insist on a "Snape is *really* a Good Guy" 
theory. I do think, though, that JKR has been extremely careful not 
to leave any definitive evidence of either Good!Snape or ESE!Snape 
lying around anywhere in Book 6.