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 . . . .
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branchandroot
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Date: 2007-04-16 12:59 am (UTC)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 . . . .