META: Did Snape know Draco's task?

[amanuensis1]

Little bit of meta here, my take on one question posed by the Spinner's End chapter of HBP: did Snape indeed know what Draco's task was when he claimed to Bellatrix and Narcissa he did? Here's what Snape says:

"It so happens that I know of the plan," he said in a low voice. "I am one of the few the Dark Lord has told."

Some readers have speculated that he might not have, that he was bluffing. If that's so, that means he didn't know exactly what he was signing up for when he agreed to make the Unbreakable Vow. Why would Snape have taken such a risk? Possibly because he didn't know Draco's task and figured he darn well needed to know what Voldemort was plotting, so, by telling Narcissa "It's all right, you can speak freely with me," he'd have the chance to find out something crucial.

I don't see anything in that chapter that directly contradicts that idea; Snape's hesitation before he says the last words of the vow could also be said to support it. Perhaps he hesitates because he has no idea what he's promising, but knows he can't back out at that point without having his bluff called. However, one can also explain the hesitation if Snape does know that Draco's been directed to kill Dumbledore, because Snape would realize that by doing so, he's signed his own death warrant, since he's thinking there's no way he'll carry it through.

I'm more inclined to think that Snape does actually know, even though we have no hard-and-fast evidence. What we do have, though, is what can be seen as a clean example of an author's contrivance to keep the knowledge from the reader, by shrouding the element in "we must not speak of it, the Dark Lord has commanded," and "I already know of the plan." Keeps the reader in the dark. And that's all the explanation you'd need, as to why he says that. I think that's the most compelling element to sway me in that direction. But I do think that the chapter, and all the rest of the text, can support either hypothesis.

Comments

[snivilis.livejournal.com]

I thought I should mention, a tiny bit off topic, that in an interview JKR said that Snape killing Dumbledore wasn't planned...which only means that Snape didn't tell Dumbledore....

[laura-the-auror.livejournal.com]

I think that Snape still didn't know at Christmas and that it was later that DD deduced what Draco's task was from the collateral damage and then DD told Sev and the argument overheard by Hagrid took place. It's odd that Sev didn't find out through legilimency before then, but I just put that down to sloppy plot holes. There is a shakier characterisation reason I also have in mind to support the Snape was bluffing theory - if he knew that either DD or Snape himself would have to die, I don't believe he would have taken the vow. It wouldn't suit Snape or the cause for either of them to die - better to tell the Black sisters to naff off, really.

[j-daisy.livejournal.com]

That always bothered me. It was November! Ane he leaves the poor kid outside with only a blanket! No Warming Charm or anything!

[crjace.livejournal.com]

A lot of this has been articulated before, but I believe Snape knew what the task was before Spinner's End. Mostly because while I believe Snape is a good bluffer, I'm not sure he's that good. As well, I think Voldemort does trust him, and that bit about Voldemort expecting him to accomplish the task if Draco fails seems to imply he does know all about it.

Secondly, if he didn't know about the task, there is that moment when he locks eyes with Narcissa for a long while. If he didn't know about it before that, he certainly did afterwards. His hesitation at the third part of the Vow I've always took to be hesitation in swearing on his life to kill Dumbledore.

As far as the Christmas party, I think Snape is trying to get details from Draco as to how he plans to take out Dumbledore, not the general plan. Draco refuses to let Snape in on the details (to the point that he leaves him out of the operation), but it seems clear they're on the same page about what he's trying to do in general.

Regarding the arguement in the forest, I always felt that was regarding Snape having second thoughts about what he'd agreed to do, but Dumbledore telling him it was too late and he's already agreed. Hopefully, book 7 will explain how that was okay with Dumbledore . . . .

[(Anonymous)]

I think Snape knew. And I think J. K. Rowling demonstrates that to us both in Spinner's End and in other parts of the book.

1. Snape is not a moron. And he's not exactly keen to let people bully him given his past. He wouldn't have allowed Narcissa and Bellatrix to manipulate him into the Vow and put himself in such a position that he couldn't back out if he didn't know what it was.

2. Everyone knew about Draco's task. Bellatrix, Narcissa, Dumbledore, Fenrir, even minor Death Eaters we've never even heard of before, like Alecto...They all knew. Why, then, wouldn't Snape? I don't think the fact that Dumbledore knew means Snape knew, because Dumbledore had a "number of useful spies" in the first war, so there's no reason to think he hasn't got them this time around. But I do think that if everyone and their dog knew, Snape wasn't likely to be in the dark.

3. When Snape gets to the tower and is told that Draco isn't killing Dumbledore, he isn't surprised. There's no, "Oh was THAT it all this time?" He looks around and then he kills Dumbledore. He's not processing it as though it's something new. Yes, he's great at hiding his emotions, but I think coming upon a group of Death Eaters with a dying Dumbledore pleading with him might get him to...blink a little. You know?

Anyway, that's my two cents, for whatever it's worth. I'm sorry if this reads...argumentative or something. It's only meant to be my opinion.

[(Anonymous)]

In reference to number three, I meant, he might have SOME reaction if he didn't expect it. It really seems to me like he was clear on what was going on.

[(Anonymous)]

I think Dumbledore would much rather Snape kill him than to place that burden on Draco. I think that if it came down to one or the other, in Dumbledore's mind, it was better for Snape to live with it than for Draco to.

[(Anonymous)]

If you're talking about the interview that was immediately after HBP, she said she didn't want to say if it was planned or not because she didn't want to end any theories and that she only says no to theories that can't go anywhere, like that Snape is a vampire.

Of course, I haven't read every single one of her interviews, so maybe I'm thinking of a different one? And if I am, then I'm sorry for making an assumption.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

"You just want to steal my glory"

Ah, that's certainly a difficult line to argue against! I suppose Draco might be conceding to reveal that his task is glorious, or maybe he's been told "Snape knows what your task is" by Narcissa and so is comfortable speaking of at least this much around him, not realizing Snape is fishing.

I too feel that it's darned complicated if Snape did not know, though.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Makes ya wish there were no interviews to be confusin' the issue, don't it. ^_^

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

My head, she reels! *claps head*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I think if you look at each conversation of Snape's--whether it's directly shown to the reader or represented as someone's eavesdropping--as "do not reveal the thing to the reader; keep up the suspense," then that's the simplest explanation and it's one that works for every instance. Simplest explanation's not always the right one but it IS a potential argument for that interp! ^_^

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

The scary thing is that he's generally correct about his misgivings, too, and this may not bode well for Snape in the end.

Yii, that's true. Snape may well prove to have been wiser than Dumbledore when all is weighed at the end.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Ooh! Hey, what if she'd written the scene from Pettigrew's point of view? That's something I'd've enjoyed. ^_^

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's scary if you think about how much collateral damage Draco could have caused just with his Dumbledore-offing task, let alone the let-DEs-in task.

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

I don't really think that, because it would be too peculiar. Nevertheless, it does occur to me and it would make things very interesting!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I still think it would have been way cool(er) that way. *blasphemes* ^_^

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I can imagine it both ways, though. I can certainly imagine him hesitating to complete the Vow--remember, when he agreed to it readily it was only with the condition that he protect Draco, which he was happy to do--but when the "complete Draco's task" condition is tagged onto the end, he knows that to back down then--he knows that even that little bit of hesitation--will condemn him in Bella and Narcissa's eyes, and Bella is dangerous. So if he knows what the task is, he still--he especially--needs to agree, because it's something any loyal DE would readily agree to do. And he hesitates because he thinks, "Oh, f**k, I've just killed myself. But it's not like I thought I'd get out of this alive anyway, sigh." And he completes the vow.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Oh, perfect--I love your essays! You and I are so very much in agreement about this, about how it could go either way, except gut instinct makes us choose that he did know because that moment of hesitation is a much much more interesting read that way, you know? Along with being the simplest. What you have to say about the "deep down" and the "deeper down" is exactly how I see Snape.

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

Dumbledore's whole educational philosophy is "let them work it out for themselves." Which is fine if what you are talking about is a math problem, but not so fine if the students are in danger of their lives.

Let's look at that crazy scene in the girls' bathroom. Imagine if Harry and Draco weren't two boys with wands willing to cast violent spells, but instead had the analog weapons in their hands. Draco attempts to shoot Harry (Cruciatus) and Harry stabs Draco (sectumsempra.) In a real school, both boys have to face some kind of suspension or expulsion. At Hogwarts, Harry gets detention and everyone figures that Draco almost died so he's off the hook. Hello! You can't go around shooting and stabbing people.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I think it certainly could be, though I think it's adding a complicated interpretation to a situation that could be read more simply. Like the theory that Harry was being fed a love potion and that's why he liked Ginny. Nevertheless I'd weigh that one as one of the more probable! (The legilimency, not the love potion. ^_^)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I was always a has-his-own-agenda!Snape gal, and then HBP came along and cemented Snape's loyalties as Dumbledore's Man, and suddenly I was left realizing Snape has been hero #2 of the books all along. Howdya like that? ^_^

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

That "Can I come with you when you destroy it?" That was the puppy who runs up to you all tail-wagging in his "Can we go for a ride in the car?" happy-wag when you've come to take him to the vet to be put down. WAH.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Draco's bleeding from Sectumsempra, possibly to be permanently scarred, and the worst Harry gets is detention? That prevents him from participating in Quidditch. Yeah. Cry me a river. And the plot? Culminates in him snogging Ginny in, what, six pages later. Gimme a break.

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

I thought that was one of the worst moments of Snape's teaching, as well. Harry felt horribly guilty and bad when Snape discovered him over Draco's body in the bathroom. By the end of his detentions, he didn't feel guilty or bad about what he had done at all--just angry with Snape. If Snape had been Lupin, the master of the guilt trip, he would have made Harry come with him to the Infirmary. Then he would have asked Harry to suggest his own punishment. Harry would have offered to quit Quidditch if he had done that.

But Snape doesn't seem to want to teach Harry anything, just to prove to Harry that he's wrong about this, that and the other thing.