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

[nemesister.livejournal.com]

It seems as if Draco knows exactly that Snape knows exactly what his job is. "You just want to steal my glory" What kind of glory? They both know what they are talking about. Snape wants to know WHAT Draco is planning to DO abut it. He asks him if he has something to do with the necklace and tells him that he is already suspected. (- Proof that Snape and Dumbledore were discussing Harry's suspicions.) Snape doesn't know about the necklace or the mead or the cabinet, information that is very important to protect students like Katie and Ron and to ensure that Draco doesn't kill Dumbledore.
I really don't see how Snape asking Draco what he is planning is a hint to Snape not knowing what the job is.

Additionally Dumbledore told Draco that he has known all year that Draco was after him. So for Snape to not knowing about it at Christmas we have to assume that a)Voldemort doesn't trust him b)Dumbledore doesn't trust him and c)Snape is an idiot who can't count 2 and 2 together. I don't think b and c have any basis in canon, even a goes directly against the information we have. It also leads to the question how Dumbledore knew, if Snape didn't tell him.

Everything makes sense if we just accept that Snape knew from the beginning, and only gets complicated by assuming he didn't.

[imkalena.livejournal.com]

Snape is an idiot who can't count 2 and 2 together. I don't think b and c have any basis in canon, even a goes directly against the information we have

Like so many other things, it goes directly against what JKR tells us . . . what you want to deduce from the events shown is debatable.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

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

[nemesister.livejournal.com]

I don't get it... where does the canon imply that Snape can't count 2 and 2 together unless you believe this theory?

[imkalena.livejournal.com]

I wasn't specifically thinking about the theory itself in my response. I wasn't even thinking about whether or not Snape can literally count up to four.

I was thinking of the 'Snape is an idiot who can't count 2 and 2 together' comment, and about how we're supposed to believe that he's an Order spy, successfully spying for years in the retinue of a homicidal lunatic who punishes his own minions with torture and worse, when Snape is shown as a man who never hesitates to unleash his anger on people around him and can't control his temper in a difficult situation.

Despite what JKR would have us believe (Snape is a good spy, since he's still alive, regardless of where his true loyalties lie), I think C has some basis in canon. Those are traits that would make for a lousy, and short-lived, spy. It's one of those things of hers we're just supposed to believe, like that the Weasley twins are lovable scamps, when their actions are heartless, even ruthless, and self-serving.

[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.