Slimy Gits Need Love, Too.

HP-6, page 32,
"If he has forbidden it, then you ought not to speak," said Snape at once...
But Snape had gotten to his feet and strode to the small window, peered through the curtains at the deserted street, then closed them again with a jerk. He turned around to face Narcissa, frowning.
"It so happens that I know of the plan," he said in a low voice...

Something happened at that moment. Until now, I accepted the theory that Shape did not know of the plan until that moment, when he saw it in Narcissa's mind.

"He intends me to do it in the end, I think. But he is determined that Draco should try first. You see, in the unlikely event that Draco succeeds, I shall be able to remain at Hogwarts a little longer, fulfilling my useful role as spy..."
"In other words, it doesn't matter to him if Draco is killed!"

I believe Snape's claim that Voldemort told him.
First, because he has not had time to invent such elaborate details.

Even without that, it makes sense.

The plan was a joke, from the beginning.
I can understand Voldemort telling Snape about it:
(1) Because of Snape's position, he could turn it into a real plan. He could let Draco "own" the plot until the last minute, thus protecting his status as Voldemort's spy if the plan were aborted.
(2) It would be the ultimate test of Snape's loyalty to Voldemort. Voldemort couldn't lose. If the plan failed, Snape would be exposed as a traitor. If the plan succeeded, he would be rid of Dumbledore AND he would be sure of his now-most-faithful servant, Snape. By the Belletrix standard, Snape is intelligent, reliable and emotionally stable. Truly a prize. Voldemort would have a useful servant at last!

I believe that Snape already knew of the plan.
So, what happened in that moment by the window?
I believe it was a moment of genuine compassion for Narcissa and Draco,
which lead (BECAUSE of Snape's genuine compassion) to a most brilliant idea.

"It might be possible...for me to help Draco..." Via Legilimency, Snape planted the idea of the Unbreakable Vow in Narcissa's head, and then accepted "her" suggestion. Because of his vow to Narcissa, Snape can now protect Draco from Voldemort, now and in the future. Any threat to Draco's life is a threat to Snape's. Having finally found such a useful servant, Voldemort will be hesitant to risk it.

Why? Well, so far, this theory is only beneficial to Draco. I'm still working on it.
I have a feeling there's more, but I can't put my finger on it.

But this simple version works, too. It didn't cost anything and, as I've said, I believe that Snape's concern for Draco was genuine. Slimy gits they may be, but slimy gits need love, too.
And it would all have been worth it, just for the look on Bellatrix's face.

I know, I’ve come full circle and back to… surface value.
It is as it was when I first read it. But with a little depth.

Go ahead, say it:
"Blimey, what a waste of parchment..."
I can see drawing a conclusion like that.

But no! The difference is subtle, but something.
Perhaps something profound.

I'm thinking along the lines of the LOVE thing,
and along the lines of a divide-and-conquer thing.
Trouble within Voldemort's ranks.
Voldemort has threatened a child, and a child of one of his own.
Has he crossed a line? Could this awaken a latent sense of decency...?

A line from the third book is rattling around in my head, trying to connect itself to all this.
"...and I am much mistaken if Voldemort wants his servant in the debt of Harry Potter."
"...This is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable, Harry..."

Somehow... I don't know, I'm working on it.

Feel free to toss out a comment.

============================

How did I end up in the "Fan Fiction" department?

Recently, while I was writing a fanfic that isn’t finished yet, I realised that if Draco turned good and betrayed Voldemort, Voldemort wouldn’t be able to harm or kill him without going through Snape first as Snape is bound to protect Draco. Whichever choice Snape makes, either way would result in Voldemort losing his best servant. I know I may be talking aimlessly here, but I think Draco will break down and try to back out of Voldemort’s service. It would be very fitting, seeing as Draco was reluctant to kill Dumbledore. And Draco is a coward. All bullies are cowards underneath. We have seen this many a time thanks to Draco's behaviour. For instance he is always afraid of entering the Forbidden Forest.
I don’t know about Snape showing concern for Draco. It could be that he made the vow because he was worried about him, but who’s to say that it wasn’t because he wanted to gain Narcissa’s trust? He may have wanted to prove that he really wasn’t betraying Voldy and the Death Eaters after all.
My point is, even if Snape isn’t bound to protect Draco because of the love thing, he is still bound by the Unbreakable Vow.
I’m glad you put this in the fanfic dep. by the way. Otherwise I probably wouldn’t have bothered reading it. I’m not sure the Admins will be too happy though, seeing as they want everything in the correct place. And they’re not the only ones. Maybe you should move this topic to its proper place once more people know about it.

How do you move a thread?
I really did not intend to land here.
I spend almost no time here.

I don't know how to move a thread. You ought to ask the Admins.

It worked!
I moved a thread!

Like Dorothy, I had the power all along.
You just tap your shoes three times...

Oh, and feel free to admire my new avitar
-- my little pork chops, to the left.
That's Sally, Buzz, Terra, Pam and Calista.
I figured out how to do that, to.

But that's where I was going.
What if he really... stop laughing!
What if he really...
Oh, don't make me say it again. It's too gross.
But what if?

But that's where I was going.
What if he really... stop laughing!
What if he really...
Oh, don't make me say it again. It's too gross.
But what if?
[/b][/quote]

Maybe,I mean I think snape is still on the good side that Dumbledore planned this whole affair.
Nobody will know until HP7 comes out I cant wait!!

What if he really what? Cares about him? I'm not going to laugh.

Well certainly Narcissa looks like she's starting to slip at the thought of Voldemort harming Draco. It's obvious that she doesn't care about anyone in the world in the way she cares about Draco, so if Voldemort did threaten her son we could have her slipping too.