High Noon for OFH!Snape

[Ana]

No: HPFGUIDX 149512


Pippin:
(...)In fact he's created an opportunity for the fake death which is the 
*only*way to save Dumbledore, because while it would be very hard to 
fool Voldemort into thinking he'd killed Dumbledore, it might just be 
possible to fool him into thinking that Snape or Draco had done it. (...)


Ana:
Im very keen to believe that Dumbledore faked his death, maybe for my 
own personal feelings about Dumbledore and Snape, but I also think there 
is canon evidence for that undestanding. Actually, the whole "faking 
Dracos death idea" - that only exists in the American Edition of HBP 
(see quote that follows this) - is what makes me think: "hey, if he can 
arrange to fake Dracos, why not fake his own? "

    " `I can help you, Draco.` `No, you can't , said Malfoy, his wand
    shaking very
    badly indeed. `Nobody can. He told me to do it or he'd kill me. I've
    got no
    choice.` `*He cannot kill you if you are already dead.* Come over to
    the right
    side, Draco, and we can hide you more completely than you can
    possibly imagine.` "
    /(HBP American edition pg 591/552)/

    " `I can help you, Draco.''No, you can't,' said Malfoy, his wand
    hand shaking very badly indeed. 'Nobody can. He told me to do it or
    he'll kill me. I've got no choice.'
    Come over to the right side, Draco, and we can hide you more
    completely than
    you can possibly imagine."
    /(HBP UK Edition pg 552/)



Pipin:
(...)And the wording of the vow is twisty enough to give Snape an out.

Ana:
Anyway, though I believe in DDM!Snape, and therefore, Im ready to 
embrace most of "Dumbledore is not dead" theories, I couldnt  see how 
"the wording of the vow is twisty enough to give Snape an out.", as 
Pippin said. It looks to me as though either Dumbledore or Snape must be 
dead at the end of book six, as a consequence of the UV. I tried 
re-reading the vow many times, in a desperate hope to find that outing, 
but I didnt manage it. Would anyone be kind enough to point that out to 
me? :)
Thanks!

    "Narcissa spoke.
    Will you, Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts ta
    fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes?`
    `I will,` said Snape.
    A thin tongue of brilliant flame issued from the wand and wound its
    way around their hands like a red-hot wire.
    `And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?`
    `I will,` said Snape.
    A second tongue of flame shot from the wand and interlinked with the
    first, making a fine, glowing chain.
    `And, should it prove necessary... if it seems Draco will fail...`
    whispered Narcissa (Snape's hand twitched within hers, but he did
    not draw away), `will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has
    ordered Draco to perform?`
    There was a moment's silence. Bellatrix watched, her wand upon their
    clasped hands, her eyes wide.
    `I will,` said Snape.
    Bellatrix's astounded face glowed red in the blaze of a third unique
    flame, which shot from the wand, twisted with the others, and bound
    itself thickly around their clasped hands, like a fiery snake."