New(?) questions about the Unbreakable Vow

[lealess]

No: HPFGUIDX 141850

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman" 
<susiequsie23 at s...> wrote:
>
> SNIP!
> 
> 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."
> 
> ANOTHER SNIP
> 
> 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.

lealess:

Now that you've quoted the passage, what I noticed was that he 
said "IF he has forbidden it..."  If he knew about the plan, he would 
have known that talking about it was forbidden.  This suggests to me 
that he did not know about the plan.  He may have paused at the 
curtains to think about what to do next, and then gambled on leading 
Narcissa into revealing the plan.  Why?

> 
> *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?]

I would say yes to all of these!  If he protected Harry, it may have 
been because of Harry's being the Chosen One to defeat Voldemort, or 
out of a remaining obligation to Harry's father (life debt), or out 
of loyalty to Dumbledore.  If Harry was dead, however, Snape would be 
able to remain at Hogwarts as a spy for Voldemort.  With Dumbledore 
dead, no matter what the circumstances, his usefulness to Voldemort 
as a spy, and his support at Hogwarts (the staff seemed to distrust 
him even though Dumbledore vouched for him) or in the Order are less 
certain.

> *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?
> 

Nah... even if ESE or OFH, Snape seems to be someone who needs to 
know what's going on.  It may be a fatal flaw, among others.  He 
spied on the Marauders, he spied on Dumbledore according to 
Trelawney, he spied on Draco, presumably.  He doesn't like to be left 
out of the loop -- much like Harry.

> *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?
> 

Yes to the first part of the first.  The second... I think he and the 
Malfoys have a special relationship, much broader than love of 
Narcissa.  They probably mentored him as a young man.

> 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?
> 

I think you've provided many of the answers in one form or another.  
Thank you!

lealess