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

[Miles]

No: HPFGUIDX 149478

Magpie wrote:
> How does this scream he doesn't know the nature of the task?  I just
> never
> understand how this is supposed to work.  Narcissa is about to tell
> him what
> the task is.  Snape stops her himself.  Then he says that he already
> knows
> what it is.

Miles:
Because Bellatrix is listening, and because he is not sure whether anyone
else is listening. He made sure Peter is not behind the door just before, so
he doesn't want any witnesses. If you want information, it is sometimes good
not to let the informant know that he gives something to you. That's what he
is trying to do: let Narcissa tell him the task, without letting her and
particularly Bellatrix know that he didn't know it before. It turns out that
he is too clever here, but his strategy is not stupid -it just, but only
just, failed.

Magpie wrote:
> He even, iirc, thoughtfully says that he thinks that "he"
> always intended him to do "it" in the end.  Is he just talking
> nonsense,
> hoping it fits with the plan?  Because to me that line sounded like a
> very
> thoughtful line from Snape that loses meaning if he doesn't know what
> he's
> talking about.

Miles:
But Narcissa told him that Draco won't be able to succeed, and she asked him
for help. He just takes the information she gave him and draws conclusions.
Draco won't be able to succeed = the task is difficult, Narcissa asks him to
help Draco = he would have better chances. Nothing magical or mysterious
here.

Magpie wrote:
> <snip> Rowling didn't need to write it that way.

Miles:
Snape does not give us a single piece of information Narcissa didn't give
him before. We do not learn anything new from Snape, all we learn is told by
Narcissa. You are right, Rowling didn't need to write it that way.

Magpie wrote:
> On top of that, taking the vow doesn't get him the information anyway!

Miles:
Refusing the vow would be a very suspicious thing to do. Just think what
Bellatrix would do. And the first and second part of the vow are no big
problem, only the third is. He hesitates before this part, but there is no
way out. It's the end of the spinner - Snape tried to be very clever, but he
got trapped in his own cobweb.

Miles