Snape's half truths in "Spinner's End"

[puduhepa98 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 149453

Carol:
>I am fairly certain that Snape's explanations to Bellatrix  in
>"Spinner's End" are a mixture of truths, half truths, and lies.  The
>problem is determining which statements are which, but two of  them
>seem particularly suspicious to me. 

<snip>Carol,  wondering what everyone else thinks about Snape's "spin" on
>these two  questions and his use of half-truths in general

Nikkalmati:
I know I am jumping  in a little late, but I have a somewhat different view 
here. Most listees  agree that Snape at SE is lying somewhere.  They disagree 
about where and  how to make that distinction.  I agree that the story he told 
Belletrix is  likely to be the story he told LV when he returned.  Therefore, 
DDMSnape is  sure to be lying here.  However, it seems to me that Snape did 
not know the  nature of Draco's assignment.
 
  ""If he has forbidden it, you ought not to speak," said Snape  at once . . 
. . "There!" she said triumphantly to her sister. "Even Snape says  so: You 
were told no to talk, so hold your silence!"  But Snape  had gotten to his feet 
and strode to the small window, peered through the  curtains at the deserted 
street, than closed them again with a jerk. . . . "It so happens that I know of 
the plan," (HBP US hardback  edition at 32).  To me the narrator is shouting 
at us - that Snape has  no idea what the plan is.  The conversation has 
reached a dead end.   This is the point where if he is VoldyMan or even if he is DDM 
and knows of the  plan he says drink up and good bye. Yet he looks out the  
window thinking "what are my options here?" I believe, he decides to  take a 
chance in order to elicit more information.  He wants to draw the  sisters out.  
He takes the UV to prove his loyality to Belletrix, to  comfort Narcissa who 
is nearly hysterical, and to put himself in a position to  mentor Draco with 
an eye to foiling the plot. Snape doesn't think Belletrix  will go to LV and 
ask how Snape knows because she is not in favor now and  she would get her 
sister in trouble.  (Not that she would hesitate on that  account if LV could 
benefit, but there is no clear benefit to telling LV about  SE).  He does not 
anticipate the third part, that Narcissa will ask him to  do the job, notice 
"Snape's hand twitched" ( HBP at 36) at the point she was  about to ask him to do 
it.  He doesn't know what he is getting  into.
 
  If he doesn't know exactly what Draco is planning there is no  reason for 
him to conceal part 3 from DD to avoid looking stupid.  He also  needs very 
much to know the plan, so he is shown trying Legimancy on Draco  (which I take to 
be an extreme step).  
 
    I do think he and DD figured it out - hence  the argument near the 
Forbidden Forest- about what they were going to do.   Also, DD refuses point blank 
to listen to Harry tell him about  Draco, "[Harry]He's trying to mend something 
dangerous in there and if you  ask me, he's fixed it al last . . . [DD] I do 
not wish to discuss the mater any  further."  DD knows.  He mentions to Harry 
he has always called  in protection when he is gone, but have we ever seen 
nearly the entire OTP  patrolling the halls of Hogwarts?  And why isn't Snape on 
patrol instead of  in his office?    
 
Long enough for one post.  
Nikkalmati (who wishes she could use  footnotes)