The Unbreakable Vow

[mooseming]

There is something about the Unbreakable Vow chapter in HBP that 
irks me. Obviously there is the whole Snape take, why did he agree 
to the dratted thing in the first place, indeed why did he allow 
himself to be led in that direction at all? Which resolves itself 
into the circular argument of he had to take the vow in order 
to `justify' killing DD on the tower and why did he kill DD because 
he had to take the UV! Whatever


In addition to that interesting and no doubt soon to be resolved 
dilemma I have a further problem. Cissy knows about the UV, Fred and 
George know about the UV (at a precociously early age by the sound 
of it), Ron, Hermione and Harry know about the UV, so how come Uncle 
Voldy doesn't?

You would think it would come with the basic `Create Your Own Cult' 
starter pack. Contents: 

Evil genius (one)
Grovelling supplicants (as required, recommended  minimum 3)
Cult name, membership titles and rank nomenclature
Disguises, costumes, uniforms (assorted)
Membership signifier (badge, dodgy handshake, coded password/s, 
tattoo as appropriate)
Initiation ceremony including:
The Cult Pledge (e.g. I promise to bludgeon myself to death before 
betraying my master, cult members, the cult code of (dis)honour etc.)

Ok so we know that one doesn't simply opt out of being a Death Eater 
because we'd like to spend more time with our family, we have been 
told Voldy won't stand for it, but you'd think it would be a simple 
case of make a UV, no exit clause, instant spontaneous combustion 
otherwise.

Yet Karkaroff was on the run, at least for a while, and he'd already 
blabbed at his trial, some wizards falsely claimed to be under the 
imperius curse. RAB whoever they may be was happily buggering up 
those best laid plans. Surely this shouldn't be possible?

Now I'm aware that on the whole Voldy would certainly qualify for 
the Evil Genius Generated Cock Up Award (EGGCUP), perhaps too 
arrogant to believe he needed such a thing, but can JKR have missed 
this? Or did the Death Eaters take some kind of vow that will 
subsequently be important. Has JK planted this concept like she 
planted the snake in PS so we'd know Harry was a parceltongue before 
CoS, or like she planted polyjuice potion in CoS so we'd get GoF, or 
the prophecy in PoA in advance of OotP?

Is this UV why Snape hasn't taken a pot shot at Voldy? Is it why all 
the DEs call Voldy the Dark Lord? If you were an evil genius what 
vow would you make your followers take?

Regards
Jo