[HPforGrownups] Re: Why didn't the order assume Snape would side-apparate Death Eaters to Grimmauld Place?

[Tim Regan]

No: HPFGUIDX 172949

Hi All,

I quoted Dung:
>>> If Hermione was able to (effectively) side-along apparate Yaxley to
Grimmauld Place, into the Fidelius Charm, why couldn't Snape side-along with
a gang of DEs? Apparition doesn't require speaking, so the tongue-tying hex
wouldn't have stopped him <<<

AggiePaddy replied:
>>> I understood it to mean that Snape COULD (and DOES) get into Grimmauld
Place, he just can't tell the DEs about it! He's in there getting the letter
from Sirius's room. <<<

And AggiePaddy replied again:
>>> Just re-read this and now understand what you mean!! I assumed that
Snape just didn't tell them about the tongue-tie curse and said there was
some other curse on it which prohibited his telling. He wouldn't have been
wanting to tell them and they wouldn't know any different! They only knew
what Snape wanted them to know! <<<

I think the problem with analysing this inconsistency is that people tend to
do it from Snape's perspective, but from there it is not inconsistent. Snape
is good. He does not want to take Death Eaters to Grimmauld Place. If they
ask him to take them there Snape can invent a reason why he cannot, the
tongue-tying curse may help him in that invention but he is a clever man,
good at Occlumency, and Voldemort's right-hand-man (literally) so I doubt
Snape would have much trouble putting the other Death Eaters, or even
Voldemort himself, off. 

No, the trouble comes if you look at it from the perspective of an Order
member. Let's imagine you are Arthur Weasley. Once you have finished
celebrating your reprieve from death I want you to cast your mind back to
the time just after Dumbledore died. I know it is painful but bear with me.
One problem you face is that Snape has shown his colours. He has killed
Dumbledore and escaped with the other Death Eaters. How are you going to
secure Grimmauld Place? Are you going to secure Grimmauld Place? Hermione
believes you decided to secure it, she says "Ron's dad said they've put up
jinxes against him" (DH chapter 9). But how do you imagine that the jinxes
you used, the tongue-tying curse and the others, prevent Snape from
side-apparating a host of Death Eaters to Grimmauld Place? There seem to be
two choices you have here. On the one hand, you may have thought that the
curses were enough to keep Snape away from even the front step and thus to
prevent him side-apparating there with other Death Eaters. Well you were
wrong there - Snape did get in. On the other hand, you may have known that
Snape would be able to enter, and thus that he could bring the Death Eaters
to the doorstep with him. But at least you would know he suffered
inconvenience and ignominy in the attempt because of your jinxes. But in
this latter option how would you react if you found that the trio were using
Grimmauld Place as a hideout? You would have to send them a warning that
they were in no sense safe. You would have to warn them that Voldemort and
an army of Death Eaters may side-apparate to the front doorstep at any
moment. But you don't have much time. You are under threat too. All you can
manage is a fourteen syllable Patronus message to the trio. That is enough
though, you could say "House insecure, get out, family safe, do not reply".
But instead you send a Patronus message saying "Family safe, do not reply,
we are being watched". Why?

Cheers,

Dumbledad.


	
	
		
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