New(?) questions about the Unbreakable Vow

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 141849

These may not actually be *new* questions about the UV, but even I'm 
not nuts enough to type "Snape" and "Unbreakable Vow" into the SEARCH 
box at HPfGU.  I mean, I'm sure I'd receive back no less than 60,000 
matches since July 19.  :-|

Anyway... as I re-read Spinner's End last evening, something Snape 
did really hit me.  Looking at p. 32 (US edition), the following 
occurs:

"The Dark Lord has forbidden me to speak of it," Narcissa continued, 
her eyes still closed.  "He wishes none to know of the plan.  It 
is... very secret. But—"

"If he has forbidden it, you ought not to speak," said Snape at 
once.  "The Dark Lord's word is law."

...

But Snape had gotten to his feet and strode to the small window, 
peered through the curtains at the deserted street, then closed them 
again with a jerk.  He turned around to face Narcissa, frowning.

"It so happens that I know of the plan," he said in a low voice.  "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 great 
treachery to the Dark Lord."


SSSusan again:
Um.  What we see here is that Snape at *first* agrees with Bella -- 
that if Voldy has commanded Narcissa not to speak of the plan, she 
should not do so.  SO IT COULD HAVE ENDED RIGHT THERE.  He could have 
LEFT it at that.

Yet Snape peers out the window [hmmm... is something out there?], 
then turns and BRINGS UP THE TOPIC AGAIN.  

So, a potentially uncomfortable topic could have been dismissed, and 
yet Snape ponders for a moment and *elects* to announce, whether he's 
lying or telling the truth, that "It so happens that I know of the 
plan," thus opening up a whole can of worms!  

Why did Snape do this??  Why did he not leave it alone after he'd 
first said Narcissa should not go against Voldy's wishes, or again, 
after Narcissa began to speak of the plan, when Snape stated that he 
would not attempt to dissuade Voldy?

I mean, this confession (or lie) that "it so happens that I know of 
the plan" leads directly to his being asked to take the Unbreakable 
Vow.  And even when the UV was proposed, he *still* could have begged 
off, by stating again that it would be going against Voldy's orders, 
would be "great treachery."  

So again I ask, WHY did Snape reintroduce the subject when it could 
have possibly been dropped?  Why did he not beg off when Narcissa 
first started speaking of the plan or when the UV was suggested?  He 
had legitimate reasons/excuses to have done so.

*Was it the DADA jinx in operation and he couldn't help himself?  

*Was the UV a total surprise?  Or did Snape hope to be able to show 
his loyalty because he knew Narcissa would ask him to help Draco?  
Was that his goal but the 3rd vow was a surprise?  

*Was it part of a plan to do whatever necessary to convince Bella of 
his loyalty to Voldy?  

*Was it out of the mistaken belief that the task in question was to 
kill *Harry*?  [Nah, probably have to nix this one, given Snape's 
remark that if Draco succeeded in the task, it would allow him 
(Snape) to remain at Hogwarts a little longer.  How would killing 
Harry be related to that?]

*Was it because he's ESE! and he wanted to be in on killing DD?  

*If he's OFH!, wouldn't he have focused *most* on his survival, on 
remaining neutral or middle-ground, and therefore not have committed 
to something as risky as a UV?

*Was it because, as DDM!, he wanted to make sure he knew the details 
of any big plan Voldy had, or alternately, wanted to be in a position 
to watch and perhaps guide Draco? 
 
*Was it ACID POPS – love of Narcissa – that made him do it?

Alright, so a goodly portion of this is definitely not new ground.  
But does anyone have an answer for the question of WHY Snape paused 
and then reintroduced a topic he could've let drop?

Siriusly Snapey Susan