[HPforGrownups] Re: Unbreakable Vows

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 165550

From: Zara <zgirnius at yahoo.com>
>> 6) Therefore (second conclusion, combining #3 and #5): The vow is 
>what the person making the vow understands it to be. 
>
>zgirnius:
>I disagree with 6). A person could make sure they understand what is 
>being asked before taking a Vow. But I still think it would be 
>possible for them not to know. Suppose Snape was pretty sure 
>Voldemort had asked Draco for an ice-cream cone. But he's wrong! 

"Pretty sure" doesn't make it. Snape may not have known what Draco's mission was, but he knew damned well that he had promised to complete it for Draco, should Draco fail. Yes, even with my logic, it is possible to make an unbreakable vow to do something when you don't know exactly what it is, as long as it is your intent to find out and follow through. It's just a stupid thing to do. And logic does NOT dictate that it's a way to weasel out. 

Now, if Cissy had told Snape that Draco's mission was to get Tommy an ice cream cone, and got Snape to promise to follow through if Draco can't do it, it is logical to assume that Snape's responsibility is to get Tommy an ice cream cone. Otherwise, UV's can be too easily abused to make them a useful spell.

Bart