Severus Unbound (Was: Bonder in Unbreakable Vow)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 140581

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at y...>
wrote:
> ...edited...
> Carol adds:
> ...edited...
> 
> The third provision has been fulfilled (DD is really dead, or else
> Snape would be dead). But I'm not sure about the provisions to help
> and protect Draco. ...

bboyminn:

Straying from the central subject, let me say, don't get too carried
away. Look at the actual Vows -

"Will you, Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to
fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes?"

"And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?"

"And, should if prove necesary... if it seems Draco will fail..."
whispered Narcissa (Snape's hand twitched within hers, but he did not
draw away), "will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has
ordered Draco to perform?"

1.) Snape only has to watch over Draco as he attempts to do the Dark
Lord's wishes. 

Sorry but that's not a very strong vow, and requires very little
action or effort on Snape's part

2.) Too the best of his ability, Snape will protect Draco. That
doesn't mean he will or even has to succeed, it only means he has to try.

3.) If it SEEMS that Draco will fail, Snape has to carry out 'the
Deed'. So, what happens if Snape doesn't know what 'the deed' is when
he makes the Vow, is he still bound to it? Is he bound to the unknown?
 Or, what if Snape interprets 'the deed' as fixing the Vanishing
Cabinet, is he absolved of helping murder Dumbledore? Not is he
absolved by law, but is he absolved by the Vow considering 'the deed'
was never specified, just assumed.

> Carol Continues:
> Snape got Draco safely off the Hogwarts grounds, but we have no idea
> what happened to them afterwards. (My guess is that Snape persuaded 
> Voldemort that Draco made the killing of DD possible by fixing the
> vanishing cabinet and letting the DEs into Hogwarts; certainly DD 
> would not be dead if it had not been for Draco's actions. But of
> course I could be completely wrong here.)
> 

bboyminn:

No, I think you are right. Unless I'm mistaken Narcissa says that she
doesn't think Voldemort expects Draco to succeed, and Narcissa seems
convinced that Draco won't succeed. So, I don't think his failure will
catch anyone by suprise. But, Draco certainly won't have the status he
hoped for, and I have no doubt that he will be punished by Voldemort.
But he will live. He has proved some worth, and Snape will help
convince Voldemort that 'some worth' is worthwhile.

> Carol concludes:
>
> He knows quite well that the consequence of breaking
> an Unbreakable Vow is death.
> 
> Carol

bboyminn:

I'm pretty sure the Vow is over. Of course, it's difficult to tell, so
much of it was vague and implied that I wonder if it was ever in
force. To the central point, I think Bellatrix is merely a facilitator
of the creation of the Vow. Now that it's done she is out of the picture. 

For more info, see my published works. (If you haven't already.)

Dumbledore's flawed plan - Snape's Vow
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/136291

Unbreakable Vow Truly Unbreakable
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/138895

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn