Snape, a Deatheater.

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 164056

Carol earlier:
I disagree that DDM!Snape is only possible if Snape didn't know what
he was agreeing to do. Trapped!Snape, caught in the fiery ropes of the
unanticipated third provision, is another possibility, especially if
the DADA curse fell into place at just that  moment (Slughorn's
acceptance of the Potions position on what appears to be the same
night would make Snape the DADA teacher, whether he knew it or  not).
But even if he could somehow have escaped from Bella (standing over
him with a wand as he knelt at her feet), Narcissa (desperate enough
by her own  admission to do anything to protect her son), and the vow
itself (his wand  hand was bound in ropes of fire), and refusal to
take the third provision could have been interpreted as breaking the
vow), he still could have chosen to agree to that last provision as a
calculated risk, accepting the huge danger to himself and hoping to
prevent the danger to either Draco or Dumbledore.
> 
Nikkalmati responded:
>  
> 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.  I also
find it insufficient for him  to take the UV to impress Bella with his
loyalty to LV or to please Narcissa.

Carol responds:
I agree that he didn't accept the third provision to impress Bella or
please Narcissa, but I think the danger they posed to him may have
been one factor in his decision. I'm quite sure that he took the UV,
including the third provision, primarily to protect Draco. But I don't
see how it's foolish to hope that he can get out of the unanticipated
third provision--certainly less foolish (IMO) than agreeing to do an
unknown yet obviously dangerous and probably evil deed for Draco just
to find out what that deed was!

I lean toward his being trapped already by the ropes of fire around
his wrists. In that position, he would weigh the risks of refusing the
third provision (Would it kill him to refuse? Would he remain bound to
Narcissa by ropes of fire until he agreed to the third provision?
Could he pull away and reach for his own wand if Bellatrix tried to
hex him, using his left hand since his wand hand was bound by ropes of
fire? Even if he could safely refuse, could he risk revealing his
loyalty to DD by refusing to take it? What excuse could he possibly
make without sabotaging what he had already accomplished?) against the
advantages of agreeing (staying alive, retaining Narcissa's trust,
allaying Bellatrix's suspicions, protecting Draco--at the cost of his
own life if need be). He would know that Dumbledore, if anyone, could
avoid being placed in a situation where Snape would be forced to
choose between dying or killing him (or one where Draco would be
endangered for failing to complete his mission). Dumbledore, after
all, was powerful and wise. If anyone could help Snape out of this
predicament, it was Dumbledore. All they had to do was to avoid a
situation that would trigger the UV, and at all costs, keep Draco away
from Dumbledore. The wording, after all, was not absolute. There's an
escape clause: "If it appears that Draco will be unable to do the
deed." All they have to do is make sure that set of circumstances
never happens. It was a calculated risk, like many such risks that
Snape had taken before. Unfortunately, this one didn't work out as he
hoped because of the DADA curse, which doomed him to exposure as a DE
from the beginning. Or that's how I read it. But at least he and DD
succeeded in their primary objective--preventing Draco from becoming a
killer or being killed.

Carol, noting that DDM!Snape would never have agreed to the UV if
Narcissa hadn't withheld the third provision from her request