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*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince spoiler warning*
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*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince spoiler warning*

It all seems quite obvious, doesn’t it? Severus Snape finally gave away where his true allegiance lies. He cold-heartedly kills Dumbledore and returns to Voldemort as one of his loyal Death Eaters. But, as we’ve learned from previous books, nothing is what it seems with J.K. Rowling. I believe in this case as well, things are not what they seem. There are just too many odd things that seem to point in other directions, so I’m not convinced Snape is plain evil and loyal to Voldemort. I’m just going to ramble about theories, questions and possible explanations.

I believe Dumbledore and Snape had some kind of agreement. If Snape was loyal to Dumbledore, Dumbledore must have known about the Unbreakable Vow Snape had made to Narcissa. If he did, he knew that if Draco wouldn’t kill him Snape would have to do it or he would die. They must have discussed this. Which brings me to Hagrid mentioning he overheard Dumbledore and Snape having a heated argument. According to Hagrid Snape was saying he doesn’t want to do it anymore and Dumbledore saying he’d agreed to it and that was that. What they were discussing seems to be crucial. Did they argue about Dumbledore’s instructions for Snape to kill him if the time would come? Perhaps if being a spy meant killing Dumbledore, he didn’t want to do it anymore. I guess they must have discussed the possibility that one day Snape would come face to face with Dumbledore while spying as a Death Eater. Was Snape arguing because he might have to kill Dumbledore and he didn’t agree with it? When you read this scene the first time you think it’s implying Snape doesn’t want to spy for Dumbledore anymore, but if he did switch sides, why the hell would he argue with Dumbledore about it? It doesn’t make sense.

Dumbledore trusts Snape implicitly. As McGonagall reminds us at the end of the book, Dumbledore has always hinted he had “cast-iron” reasons for doing so. He never explained to anyone what these reasons are. I’m starting to wonder whether Snape and Dumbledore perhaps had an Unbreakable Vow between the two of them. When Snape returned to Dumbledore after having been a Death Eater he must have had to promise something or take a test of some sort. An Unbreakable Vow would explain it all. Is this perhaps Dumbledore’s reason for his faith in Snape?

Why would Dumbledore give Snape the DADA position after all these years? Dumbledore gives Snape the DADA position although he knows it is jinxed and whoever has the position will only be able to have the job for a year. Does he give the job to Snape because he knows Snape won’t be around anymore after this year? He must have had his reasons, so it seems like he knew something was going to happen.

We don’t know what kind of potion Dumbledore drank in the cave. What did the potion do to him? Do the things he was saying while drinking the potion have any relevance? Was he only weakened by the potion? Or was he perhaps already slowly dying from the potion? If he was already dying Snape killing him would make sure Voldemort trusted Snape into his closest circle, where he could play an important role in the final battle.

When Harry and Dumbledore return to Hogsmeade/Hogwarts, Dumbledore only wants Snape. He repeatedly asks Harry to get Snape. Not Madam Pomfrey or Slughorn, he insists on Snape. If he just wanted an antidote to the potion, Snape would be a fine choice of course, but Slughorn would seem to be another option. Why then? Because he knew what was coming? Because Snape had a role to play?

Why did Dumbledore immobilize Harry? It doesn’t make any sense, because he could have fought alongside Harry. Together they could have easily taken out Malfoy and fought the other Death Eaters. I mean, we are talking about one of the most powerful wizards alive, so why is he so easily disarmed by Draco? He tries to talk Malfoy out of killing him because he doesn’t want Draco to become a murderer, but he could have saved himself. Was he ready to die and simply protecting Harry? Something seems off. He could have saved himself if he had truly wanted to, if he had been intent on living. It makes me feel like he knew this was the end for him. It almost seems like he is sacrificing himself, for Harry, for Draco, for Snape, perhaps even for the entire Wizarding World, who knows? Something about Dumbledore’s actions seems totally off, which makes me believe he knew what was coming. There are a lot of weird holes in Dumbledore’s death scene. Did Dumbledore know he had to die?

“Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face. ‘Severus… please…’”

First of all, remember that both Snape and Dumbledore are accomplished Occlumens/Legilmens. It is possible they were communicating without anyone noticing. Second of all, about the pleading. When you first read this part you assume Dumbledore is pleading for his life, but I do not believe for one bit that Dumbledore would plead for his life. I can’t see Dumbledore pleading for his life. That seems totally wrong. Dumbledore does not fear death. Remember: “To the well-organized mind death is but the next great adventure.” So, if his plead wasn’t for life his plead could have been for death, to plead with Snape to remember some promise or commitment he has made, to plead with Snape to have the courage to do what has to be done. Third of all, if Snape was ordered or forced to kill Dumbledore the look of revulsion and hatred on Snape’s face makes sense. Who would want to be put in such a situation? It only shows how much he is suffering because of what he had to do.

Snape’s behaviour after having killed Dumbledore doesn’t fit the behaviour of a true Death Eater and cold-hearted murderer. He won’t let Harry utter an Unforgivable Curse. Seems weird is he was a true Death Eater. I thought it was also very interesting that Snape continued to "teach" Harry as Harry flung attempted curses at Snape. “Blocked again and again and again until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter!” Snape is still giving Harry lessons when they are duelling! Reminding him that he needs to be quicker, needs to learn Occlumency and needs to perform his spells silently if he is to win a battle. Why on earth would Snape choose to remind Harry of these things is he was a true Death Eater?

Why did Snape stop the other Death Eaters from hurting Harry? He shouldn’t have cared whether Harry was hurt or tortured a bit if he truly hated him that much. Snape himself didn’t even hurt Harry a bit until he goaded him by saying “Kill me like you killed him, you coward.” Harry had already called Snape a coward shortly before that, but that time Snape didn’t respond the way he did the second time. I can only conclude Snape became really angry the second time because of the context. Harry somehow hit a sore spot by including the killing Dumbledore part. If Snape was ordered by Dumbledore to take his life he certainly wasn’t a coward when he followed the order. If Snape killed Dumbledore on his own request he has not sided with Voldemort at all.

One other thing. On both the inside flaps of the dust cover of the UK children’s edition there are two hands clasped together in the Unbreakable Vow. When I started reading the book I was convinced that it would be Harry’s and Dumbledore’s hands and that at some point they would make an Unbreakable Vow. As that didn’t happen, whose hands are they? It seems unlikely to be Snape's and Narcissa's, so whose are they? It’s definitely an older and a younger hand. Could it possibly be Snape’s and Dumbledore’s? Or was this just some artistic freedom?

All in all I don’t think Snape can be condemned as a traitor. Not yet. We need much more information to go either way. If Snape turns out to be a true villain after book 7 I will be very disappointed with JKR. But I guess we’ll only truly know by the end of book 7 which side Snape is really on. After this post you know where I stand.