Whose orders was Snape following?

[maxximus787]

No: HPFGUIDX 135787

saraquel_omphale:
> > Secondly the whole locket thing. Do I smell fish here? If the
obvious is true, and R.A.B. is a person and not an acronym, then of
course Regulus Black springs to mind, plus the "heavy locket that
none of them could open" OotP p108 which was in the cabinet at the
Black family home and could well have been one of the "small objects
and coins that Harry guessed Kreacher had saved, magpie like, from
Sirius's purge of the house" OotP p445, which was then passed on in
Mundungus' meeting with the barman at the Hogshead (who I think we
all know is Aberforth) HBP p231 which might then, very easily have
passed onto DD, way, way before the outing to the cave.    

I really agree with the points you made. Especially about Regulus
Black and the locket.  I mostly agree because, yeah it does make sense
about the whole locket found in 12GP, but also because it would seem
very rash and unlike JK to thrown in another character from nowhere
and have Harry spend most of his year tracking him down just for one
Horcrux. Another reason that points to it being Regulus Black is that
the note says "To the Dark Lord" and I could be mistaken but I think
only DE's have refered to LV that way.

I also think that there is a chance that DD is still alive,
because as someone else pointed out when someone is usually hit with
AK they jus collapse with a shoked face, unlike DD who flew and had a
serene close eyed face. OR at least he knew Snape was going to kill
him and had it planned out with him somewhat.  He must have know this
because he knew Snape would have to leave the school, so he gave him
the cursed job. This also leads to my next statement about truely
believing what you said about the cave incedent to be fake.  DD was
very eager to teach Harry all about LV's weakness because he knew he
was going to die. Not just that he seemed too eager to bring Harry
along on his escapade to the cave.  DD allowed Harry to come along on
this trip to get another Horcrax when last time even DD couldn't stop
the curses from the ring from almost killing him. I mean why would DD
put Harry in that much danger.  Plus it gave him a perfect chance to
drink the drink and become weakened so that someone would actually
have a chance at "killing" him.

maxximus