That wretchedly annoying UV again -DD/Snape

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 142044

> bboyminn wrote:
> So, I would ask those who support the DD/Snape UV idea, exactly  
what
> would this Vow involve? If Snape swears loyalty to Dumbledore, then
> there is no way he can function effectively as a spy, which is the
> very job that Dumbledore will eventually need him to do. So, what
> could Snape swear that wouldn't interfer with potential future 
tasks?
> 
> Really, I don't see what Snape could possibly swear to that would
> assure his loyalty to Dumbledore and yet not interfer with his most
> important job as a spy. Keep in mind the HUGE difference between
> swearing a vow and swearing a UV.
> 
> So, in my opinion, no DD/Snape UV.

zgirnius:
I would not be 100% surprised if it turned out that Snape did have a 
UV with Dumbledore. I don't see it as something Dumbledore would ask 
of Snape (or anyone else) but it does make sense to me as something 
that Snape could conceivably have offered to a skeptical Dumbledore 
as proof of his sincerity. (And there is that little bit where Snape 
is instructing Bella in what she needs to do-has he seen one before?) 
Though I would not go so far as to say I definitely believe this 
theory...

First, a UV cannot ensure loyalty, you are totally right there IMO. 
(Actually, almost by definition, loyalty enforced by a magically 
binding contract is something else...) Obviously the wording would 
have to be flexible, as you point out. For Snape to function as a spy 
he would need to have some discretion to pass secrets on to 
Voldemort, and perform services for him to protect his cover. So the 
terms would need to be things that are either very specific and 
limited in scope, or that are so fundamentally important from DD's 
point of view that he would value them over protecting Snape's cover. 
This would make the UV less of a guarantee of Snape's good behavior, 
and more of a form of damage control, in the event it should prove 
Snape is not trustworthy.

Possibilities:
1) To protect Harry specifically, and Hogwarts students generally, 
from attacks by V and his supporters while at Hogwarts, through his 
best efforts at prevention/protection, and by not in any way acting 
to further such attacks himself. This can probably be vague enough to 
allow Snape off the hook if he fails in any instance to do so due to 
honest mistakes ("Moody"?), while presumably preventing him from 
conspiring in any such attacks. Narcissa, at least, seems to believe 
that a UV to do something to the best of one's ability has some 
value... The point of this Vow would be that by accepting the offer 
of Snape's service, DD is not placing his students in mortal danger. 
Which I think he would value this above Snape's usefulness as a spy.

2) To reveal to Dumbledore all he learns about V and the DEs plans, 
say, by the next time they meet for a debriefing. This would not blow 
Snape's cover unless DD *acted* on such knowledge, DD could decide 
for himself or in consulatation with Snape which information to act 
upon. It would ensure that Snape would be of *some* use to DD as a 
spy in that information would get passed on. And it would prevent V 
from enjoying the misinformation benefits of using Snape as a double 
agent, since a scheme to pass false information to DD via Snape would 
in itself be a plan of Voldemort. Unless V fooled Snape himself. 
Which would be a problem even with a 100% loya; DDMan!Snape.

3) Similarly, to keep secrets specified by Dumbledore. (For example, 
if he knows them, the *details* of how a certain hand injury came 
about...or, the identity of the Seer that told the Prophecy). This 
would ensure secrets of critical importance to DD would not get out 
via Snape.

I like to speculate that Hagrid might have been the Bonder in such a 
Vow...love the image of Hagrid looming over both of them, pink 
umbrella extended over theopr clasped hands...