Snape's Vow

New thought. Narcissa was the one dictating the vow, what she meant was "If Draco is going to fail in his quest to kill Dumbledore, you do it for him."

She was the one who decided the parameters of the vow and Snape agreed to these.

I wonder what the effect of the vow is on the others who participated in it?

In muggle dealings, for a contract to be legal requires an understanding, a "meeting of minds." A handshake, even a nod, could be legally binding if you could prove what it meant, and that the parties understood each other. Putting it in writing does not make it legal. That just makes it possible to prove in court, if necessary. Subtle difference in the real world but, in theory at least, any contract is about a "meeting of minds."

Then again, in muggle dealings, a contract is not a contract without an exchange of some kind. Goods, services, something of value must be exchanged. It must be a two-way thing. If it's a one-way thing, then it's just a "gratituitous promise," and is not an enforcable contract. Well, so much for that theory.

But still... this promise was between Snape and Narcissa. It was whatever they understood it to be, not what Voldemort might think of it. For both Snape and Narcissa, the main concern was Draco's safety. For Narcissa, the ONLY concern was Draco's safety. Snape promised to do whatever was necessary to keep Draco safe, even if that meant killing Dumbledore.


You lost me here. Who?

Narcissa and Bellatrix.

If I didn't think that polyjuice Potion had been used to it's limit, I'd like this theory: the night of the Unbreakable Vow, Snape wasn't really Snape.

Snape promised to do whatever was necessary to keep Draco safe, even if that meant killing Dumbledore.

And the best part is that Voldemort can't complain about the vow. He has probably already hinted to Snape that Snape will be expected to finish the job, but probably didn't mention that he will then ask Snape to turn around and kill Draco, too.

Yet he (Draco) sort of treats his mother with disdain. I mean look at how he was speaking to her in Madam Maulkin's despite her almost idolizing him.

Snape, whether he's good or bad, is in a hard spot. It makes sense that Snape would have to kill Draco. Draco's not important enough to be killed personally by Voldemort, just like Regulus wasn't. Lose-lose situation for old Severus. He kills Draco, he dies himself. If he doesn't, Voldemort kills him. I'd choose the second one. At least you'd have a chance.

A really cruel thing for Voldemort to do would be to order Narcissa or Lucius to kill him.

Does Voldemort know about the vow? I can see them all getting into trouble if he did.

Voldemort certainly knows about the vow.

Snape would be crazy not to tell him. I believe Snape made the vow to protect himself from Voldemort. If Voldemort doesn't know about it, that would defeat the whole purpose.

Yeah, I suppose Voldemort would have to know about it. But wouldn't Narcissa get in trouble?

No. Narcissa might have been prepared to tell Snape about the Plan,
but I believe Snape already knew.
She's fine.

Voldemort is probably pleased with the vow.
To Snape, it's an act of defiance,
but Voldemort might see it as a sign that Snape is taking the Plan seriously.

And now, the vow protects both Snape and Draco.

Clever Snape.