'...He was taking too much for granted'

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 161456

zgirnius:
> I think they were discussing the Draco problem. Dumbledore was
> telling him to keep watching his moves and discourage him from any
> further attempts like the necklace. Snape had already failed to
> get through to Draco in the conversation we saw during Slughorn's
> Christmas party. Just before the conversation, he had probably
> noticed Draco was up to something new (if Harry noticed Draco
> disappearing for hours, surely Snape would). He may have been
> telling Dumbledore he was not sure he could stay in top of the
> problem. 

Jen: The part I don't get with the Draco explanation is why Snape 
felt he couldn't watch over him anymore and keep him out of 
trouble.  He's not exactly a whiner type and with the Unbreakable he 
*has* to do this and not because Dumbledore is telling him to!  Then 
I start wondering if Hagrid heard and reported everything exactly as 
is or if he made some assumptions to fill in the gaps?  Or missed a 
few key words?  That makes me start wondering about your second 
option here:

zgirnius:
> So I think Dumbledore was saying Snape should say close to
> Voldemort, to spy on him, or possibly be near to help Harry in the
> final confrontation [after leaving Hogwarts because of the DADA
> curse].

Jen: This one fits Snape except for one minor thing--more on that.  
Snape wouldn't mind watching over Draco as much as Harry.  If he 
doesn't believe in the prophecy like Dumbledore does (or doesn't 
think Harry is the Chosen One since he doesn't know the full 
prophecy) then Snape wouldn't think watching over Harry is crucial, 
he wouldn't see the harm in backing out of the deal with 
Dumbledore.  If there *is* a deal.  The one part that doesn't fit 
here is Dumbledore bringing up 'making investigations in your own 
house'--if Dumbledore knows about the UV then wouldn't he know Snape 
would do everything he could to stop Draco?  Maybe he doesn't know 
about the UV, or this is the part where Hagrid didn't hear the whole 
argument.  He did mention this section in vague terms 'summat abou' 
Snape makin' investigations in his house, in Slytherin.'

Jen R., thinking JKR wanted to keep the argument purposely vague for 
Book 7.