In light of Severus Snape's atrocious treatment of Harry Potter, not to mention the fact that he killed Albus Dumbledore, many fans wonder why Dumbledore trusted him and why Snape protected Harry, a boy he clearly hates, for the past six years.
I can't remember where I read this theory, but someone surmised that Snape may have made an Unbreakable Vow to protect Harry, which is why Dumbledore was certain of his loyalty and the reason he protected the boy wizard.
We know that in Book 6, Snape made an Unbreakable Vow with dark witch Narcissa Malfoy. Apparently, Snape vowed to kill Dumbledore and protect her teenaged son Draco if he were unable to do it. Because of the vow, he was forced to kill a man he obviously cared about and protect a rotten kid like Draco. The same could be said of Snape's protection of young Harry. I haven't fleshed this out yet; I just wanted to get these thoughts down.
Also floating around is the idea that Snape made a "general" Unbreakable Vow of loyalty to Dumbledore, but not specifically to protect Harry. Interesting…
December 29th, 2005 at 5:56 pm
Severus' unbreakable vow was clearly to carry out Draco's task of killing Dumbledore if Draco could not. From the beginning of the book we were given hints of D's age and increasing weakness (his shriveled hand and his need of Harry in collecting the Horcrux, for example). Like Merlin with Arthur, Dumbledore knew that he needed to get out of the way if Harry was ever to fight Voldermort and fulfill the prophecy. Like Obi Wan, I'm sure he's not completely out of the picture. It wouldn't make sense for Harry to fight Voldy if D is still around (remember the Ministry of Magic battle?).
Toward the end of the book, D is talking with Snape and asks him to do something which Harry does not hear. I believe that was to carry out his vow. He was essentially saying, "It's okay. This needs to happen." Snape's dialogue with Harry as H is trying to stop S from leaving the grounds makes it clear that Snape is still on Harry's side. "Don't be stupid, Harry!" I think even Draco may prove faithful to the right side in the end, but likely both will lose their lives in the battle.
Just my two cents. You know Snape is a foil.
December 29th, 2005 at 6:28 pm
I use the word "apparently" because we don't know for sure what Snape vowed to do, do we? We know it had something to do with Narcissa's son, but was it also about Dumbledore…or Harry? I also think Snape made a second (or third) vow either to protect Harry or to be loyal to Dumbledore. I'm theorizing about why D was so sure he could trust Snape.
December 30th, 2005 at 10:16 am
Holá!!
My favourite character is Snape! IN like him!! I think it was nice of him to make that unbreakable vow!!
TÜNDE
December 30th, 2005 at 11:20 am
Lots of theories going around about there being more than one "Unbreakable Vow" playing into the issues of Snape's loyalty. LaShawn Barber is summarizing them briefly.
December 30th, 2005 at 2:04 pm
Wow. The idea of Snape making an unbreakable vow to protect Harry is fascinating, especially given his protection of Harry during the Quidditch match in his first year. I lean toward the Good Snape view of things though.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:39 pm
Snape is among the best characters in the Harry Potter book's. I do not like Snape at all, but
J.K.R was right for putting him in there. I mean a charter that keeps you guessing is great.
Anyways… I think Snaape is in with the dark lord if he wasn't with the Dark Lord then he
would not have stuned Professor Flickwitch in the 6th book. I know I know that people say that
he is good because of the fact that Dumbledore always trusted him, but Dumbledore also said that
he makes mistakes just like the next man and that he is smarter than most men his mistakes are
quite a bit larger. I do not think that Snape made a vow to protect Harry or a vow to protect
Dumbledore or loytie to Dumbledore because that would kind of cross with the vow he made with
Narcrissa. Mabey i am still made about him killing Dumbeldore to accept another reason to why
he killed Dumbledore or mabey after 6 books iam feed up with him and i hope Harry kills him.
January 13th, 2006 at 9:20 am
Dear LMB,
The Unbreakable Vow is indeed a crucial topic, which can greatly influence the ongoing events.
I have myself written on the matter. To read my theory on the other Unbreakable Vows which could have been made (which involve Snape, Voldemort, Dumbledore and even Gryffindor & Slytherin), visit The Unbreakable Vows (on the Abstract Pensieve):
Though some of them may delve into fanficiton, most of them carry logic.
Please leave your comments…
Yours
Varun Goel