[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape didn't make the Unbreakable Vow

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 161665

Becca:
> Anyway, I think your theory, if true, would add an extra sprig of
> tragedy to the bowl, since Snape could have chosen not to kill. I'm
> not, however, necessarily saying that Snape shouldn't have killed.
> This very well could be an Obi Wan "If you strike me down I shall
> become more powerful than you can possibly imagine" kind of
> situation. I'm reserving judgement on that until Book 7.

Magpie:
Interestingly, I thought the opposite--far from adding more tragedy to the 
bowl it makes a lot of HBP pointless.  Why all the focus on the UV if it's 
fake?  Why introduce something so cool to cause more trouble for the 
characters and then say oh, it was just a psych out?

After all, it's not like the UV means Snape couldn't choose not to kill.  He 
could have chosen to die himself. Or he could have simply chosen not to make 
the Vow at all. With the UV you get the drama of Snape making his choice and 
the drama of his not being able to back out without dire consequences. 
Without the UV we get just Snape deciding to kill Dumbledore at the end when 
Dumbledore says "please."  Still a big choice, but the stakes are lower.

-m