[HPforGrownups] Re: Why did Snape take the UV?

[tina_00]

No: HPFGUIDX 156904

Carol responds:
> I think that once he's taken the first two provisions, he has no
> choice but to take the unanticipated third one and hope there's a
> loophole.
> 

a_svirn:
But if you are right, then taking an UW, *any* UW, is unmanageable, 
and by definition unpredictable risk. Let's see: once you start you 
can be made to swear just about anything. As soon as you are on your 
knees and the ritual is started you are at the complete mercy of the 
persons involved. They could change wording without warning, come up 
with provisions at will and so on. How you can even begin to assess 
risks with such an arrangement? Of course, if you trust second and 
third parties implicitly it is another matter entirely. But we don't 
have to consider this eventuality. Not at the Spinner's End, at any 
rate. 

 
Tina now:

Maybe Snape was calculating a bigger risk – Voldemort being informed 
of their conversation. Especially after Snape interrupted Narcissa 
saying he knew about the plan, if he didn't (or even if he did, but 
wasn't supposed to). It doesn't seem to be very ooc for Bella to ask 
Voldemort why he trusted Snape with that information.

By agreeing with the Unbreakable Vow, Snape is making sure their 
conversation never reaches Voldemort, since Bella seems to love her 
sister enough not to want to put her in trouble. Before the Vow, 
Bella wouldn't have a strong motive to hide Narcissa's motivations 
to go to Spinner's End – she was desperate, and she wanted Snape to 
help her protect her son, but she didn't *do* anything. If Snape had 
refused, nothing serious would have happened and no one could be 
accused of interfering in the big plan, therefore the conversation 
wouldn't necessarily have to remain a secret between the three. With 
the Unbreakable Vow, everything changes. Now Narcissa *is* 
interfering in the plan, and Voldemort could punish her for that.

So, yes, the Vow is too great of a risk for a DDM Snape, but it 
could seem at the time a better alternative. Add to that Snape's 
affection for Draco and Narcissa and his need to make a decision 
quickly, the Vow seemed the lesser evil – until that witch (with a 
b) came up with the unexpected third provision, but at that time it 
was too late to stop it.