Snape, a Deatheater.

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 164044


> Nikkalmati
>  
> Yes, I see that Snape could still be DDM if he knew the general 
task set  for Draco at the time of the UV, but was surprised by the 
third provision, yet  took it never intending to fulfill it.  If he  
thought he and DD could  prevent the UV being activated in 
some way or intended to die himself instead of  DD, 
he could be   DDM.  On the other hand, I would find that Snape  
somewhat OOC and a little  bit foolish.  

Pippin:
Dumbledore has two alternatives if he doesn't want to let Voldemort
murder him. He can die from some other cause, or he can fake his death.
Naturally Dumbledore would prefer the second. Having decided to
fake his death, would he enlist Snape as his supposed murderer? 
If Harry is done with school and Dumbledore himself is absent from 
Hogwarts, it hardly makes sense for Snape to be tied
to his teaching post at Hogwarts when Voldemort's prime targets
are elsewhere.

 Yet Voldemort finds it useful to have a spy at Hogwarts.  Even
with Dumbledore gone, Voldemort won't want Snape to quit -- 
but why not kill, as it were, two birds with one stone? 
Dumbledore will be safe from Voldemort because he's 'dead' and 
Snape as his 'murderer' can hardly be expected to stay at Hogwarts.

I believe for these reasons that Snape and Dumbledore were already
planning for a fake murder when Narcissa showed up at Snape's
door. Snape may have even let Voldemort know that he would be
eager for the opportunity once Draco has had his chance.

In that case, turning down the third portion of the vow, or even
hesitating over it,  would certainly make Voldemort smell a rat, 
and it wouldn't be Peter Pettigrew. If Voldemort wasn't absolutely
convinced that Snape hated Dumbledore and longed for a 
chance to kill him,  Dumbledore's fake death wouldn't work.
Its failure would endanger not only Dumbledore and Snape, but
every other person the Order has managed to save in that fashion.

I think Snape agreed to the vow in the first place because he
was afraid of what Narcissa might do to try to save Draco if he
didn't. She was already at the point of disobedience to the Dark
Lord -- if Snape turned her down, she might have attempted
to flee with Draco or worse. I think she was near suicidal, and
if she killed herself, why not kill Draco too?

Pippin