UV = DDM? (was:Re: OFH! Snape again. WAS: Straightforward readings?

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 140809

> >>Sherry:
> I admit I haven't thought my ideas on OFH Snape out to their      
> fullest yet, so I can't give you a good answer for all your       
> questions.  But personally, to my mind, the unbreakable vow is the 
> greatest evidence against DDM Snape. Either that, or it's evidence 
> of damn fool Snape, which would negate his supposed intelligence   
> and brilliance as a spy.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
A minor point of contention here: If Snape is DDM! he's managed to 
hoodwink Voldemort.  If he's ESE! he's managed to hoodwink 
Dumbledore.  And if he's OFH! then he's managed to hoodwink both 
Voldemort and Dumbledore.  So I think his intelligence and 
brilliance as a spy is pretty much a given no matter what view you 
hold.  (Don't sell Snape short, now! <bg>)

> >>Sherry:
> As someone pointed out weeks ago, if he knew the elements of the   
> vow and is supposedly DDM, why on earth did he go through with    
> it?  I don't buy to save Draco or anything else.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Well, let me lay out my theory and see how it suits you.  First off, 
I have a few assumptions going into this scene.  One is that Snape 
is definitely DDM.  Second is that Snape does know what Voldemort 
has planned with Draco.

So, Voldemort comes up with his "Lucius will *pay*!" plan and shares 
it with Snape (having learned from his PS/SS adventure that an 
uninformed Snape is an annoyingly interfering Snape).  Snape, being 
DDM to the bone, immediately shares Voldemort's plan with 
Dumbledore.  Dumbledore comes up with a plan of his own.

Dumbledore is interested in two things, IMO.  One (and I believe 
this is canon) is saving Draco, both morally and physically, from 
Voldemort.  Second is somehow tying the Malfoys to the Order's 
side.  Not necessarily getting the Malfoys to *join* the Order, mind 
you.  Just obligated somehow. 

This is a bit of leap on my part, but I think there's a possibility 
that Lucius may have information regarding one or two of Voldemort's 
horcruxes.  Information Dumbledore is very interested in obtaining.  
As per Dumbledore's personal moral code, however, I do think saving 
Draco from Voldemort would rank pretty high on his to-do list.

So, Dumbledore tells Snape that he's going to allow Draco a bit of a 
free rein during the school year (the freedom to choose is essential 
to Draco's moral salvation per Dumbledore's personal code).  Snape 
will be responsible for keeping Draco from doing anything stupid 
(e.g. kill a bunch of innocents on his way to Dumbledore's office).  
Once Draco realizes that he's not a killer and Voldemort ain't all 
that, Dumbledore will offer the Malfoy family sanctuary, and just 
like that, the Malfoys are obligated to Dumbledore and the Order.

Snape knows all this when Narcissa and Bellatrix arrive on his 
doorstep.  An unexpected, but not unwelcome, visit.  He tells 
Narcissa, yes Voldemort wants your precious son dead as an object 
lesson to your husband (for that raid your sister messed up).  And 
he assures her that as their family friend he's quite willing to 
look out for Draco.  All is going according to plan because the 
Malfoy family is obviously reassessing their loyalty to Voldemort 
(Narcissa is willfully disobeying a direct order by coming to 
Snape), and Snape is proving himself to be concerned with the Malfoy 
family welfare. 

Enter the Unbreakable Vow.  This is *not* something that either 
Snape or Dumbledore forsaw, IMO.  And this is where the DADA curse 
may well manifest itself. 
(See Carol's excellent post on the DADA jinx here: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/137961 ) 
Snape thinks he knows what Narcissa will ask of him.  After all, 
she's already given her request (protect and help Draco) and Snape 
has already agreed to do so.  This is merely a formality.  Plus, 
it's further proof that Snape has the Malfoy's best interest at 
heart and may even tie the Malfoys more tightly to the Order.  So 
Snape takes a risk and agrees.  And he pays for it.

Being DDM, Snape tells Dumbledore exactly what he Vowed as soon as 
he gets a chance.  By this time Dumbledore has been injured (I 
believe fatally) and has already planned for Snape to remain only 
one more year at Hogwarts.  (Hence his giving Snape the DADA 
position and his requiring not only a Potions Master but a 
replacement Slytherin head.)  Dumbledore, aware that he's dying, 
incorporates the terms of the Vow into his end game plan.  Snape 
will not only need to be *present* at Dumbledore's death, he must 
have a hand in it.  Snape's life depends on it.  And Dumbledore's 
final plan depends on Snape being alive.  

This is why Dumbledore is so desperate for Harry to fetch Snape when 
they arrive on the tower, IMO.  I don't think Dumbledore expected to 
survive the poison he drank back in the cave.  But if he died 
without Snape's assistence than Harry would find himself doubly 
alone.  Harry was already loosing Dumbledore, he couldn't afford 
(the WW couldn't afford) to loose Snape as well.

So yes, I *do* think part of the reason for Snape taking the Vow was 
to protect Draco.  Frankly, it fits quite well into Dumbledore's 
philosophy of protecting the Hogwarts students, IMO.  I think 
another part may have been to put the Malfoy family into Snape's 
(and therefore Dumbledore's) debt.  I think the DADA jinx had a 
definite influence as well.

However, if Snape is merely OFH, there seems no reason to court the 
Malfoys.  Their power has slipped within the WW and Voldemort's 
court.  They never had any power within the Order.  And if Snape is 
ESE then it makes no sense whatsoever to make the Vow since it goes 
against Voldemort's orders that Draco is to handle his task alone. 

I'm sure this clear it all up for you. <bg>

Betsy Hp