What does Draco owe Snape? (Was: The UV )

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 162826

> SSSusan:
> I have a question about this part of the discussion.  I was 
following 
> along quite nicely, I think, until the comment was made that, in 
> questioning Snape's motives, Draco might conclude that DD had been 
> *right* about Snape's loyalties (i.e., Snape was trustworthy & on 
the 
> side of Right).  What I don't get is *why* Draco might come to this 
> conclusion, simply from asking, "Why did Snape just do what he did -
- 
> save me from the tower, KILL DD himself, and then shuffle me off 
the 
> grounds of Hogwarts?"  To me, the leap from "Snape is a loyal DE" 
> to "He might have been loyal to DD all along!" seems like a 
gigantic 
> one.  Can someone show me what I'm missing here?

zgirnius:
Nothing, in my opinion. At the end of the Flight of the Prince 
chapter of HBP, I am sure the idea that Snape was loyal to Dumbledore 
could not be farther from Draco's mind. However, something must 
happen next. (May have already happened next, though we don't know 
about it). 

That is, Draco and Snape went somewhere. Harry's musings in the final 
chapter seem to me a hint that Draco went to Voldemort. And I really 
can't see where else Snape would have gone. 

So the question becomes, what will happen/did happen, when Snape and 
Draco returned to Voldemort? Did/will Snape try to grab all the 
glory, as Draco suggested? I doubt it, if he cared enough to take an 
Unbreakable Vow to protect Draco, would he stop now? (Whether or not 
the Vow is over-and there is an argument to be made that Snape is 
still bound by the second clause...) *That's* where I can see Draco 
beginning to reevaluate some of his ideas. If Snape takes actions to 
protect him and/or his mother from Voldemort's wrath (most likely, by 
painting Draco's mission as a success by Draco.)

But to get from his present opinion to the idea that Dumbledore was 
right about Snape all along should be a slow process.