Spinner's End (HBP)
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Spinner's End is the second chapter of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Contents |
The Black sisters
Miles away from London, a dirty river runs between garbage-strewn banks. A huge chimney, vestige of a disused mill, stands beside it. There is no sign of life other than a fox hopefully searching for bits of food on the grass.
With a faint pop, a slim, hooded figure Apparates to the bank of the river. The fox freezes, staring at the newcomer, and the figure soon starts walking away. Another figure appears beside her, and she instructs the first to wait.
The harsh voice startles the fox, which jumps and is caught in a flash of green light from the second woman's wand. She turns over the fox with her foot, and notes that it is not an Auror in disguise, but only a regular animal. Seeing that the first hooded figure has resumed her way up the bank, the second one calls her again—"Cissy, wait!"—and begs for her to listen.
Narcissa angrily says, "Go back, Bella!" She crosses old railings and arrives at a narrow, cobbled street with several similar dark brick houses. Bellatrix expresses her contempt, "He lives here? Here? In this Muggle dunghill? We must be the first of our kind ever to set foot—"
Hardly paying attention, Narcissa hurries forward, striding with determination through an alleyway between two houses to access another almost identical dark street. Bellatrix tries to hold her back, but, almost hysterical, Narcissa threatens her sister with a wand.
Despite Bellatrix's fears that the Dark Lord may have been mistaken (and she looks around to be sure that the two are alone before suggesting that), Narcissa insists that Voldemort trusts Severus Snape. Bella reminds her that they were told not to discuss that specific plan with anyone.
Narcissa ignores her sister and rushes ahead into the labyrinth of brick houses, soon arriving at a street called Spinner's End. In the last house, there is a dim light coming out through the curtains; Narcissa knocks before Bella catches up with her, and after a few seconds the door cracks open.
She lowers her hood, and Severus opens the door wider, welcoming them both into the house. He salutes Narcissa warmly, but not Bellatrix; when she enters, he merely smirks and responds to her curt greeting.
Death Eaters
The sitting room resembles a dark, padded cell, and the air reveals the fact that it is not usually inhabited. Its walls are covered in books; the only items of furniture are a bare sofa, an old armchair and a table.
Narcissa sits on the sofa, and asks whether they are alone. Snape confirms it, and contemptuously adds that Wormtail is there as well; with a flick of his wand, a hidden door reveals itself, and behind it there is a small staircase. Severus points out to to the hunchbacked man on the doorway that there are guests in the house, and offers Peter's services in fetching drinks to the two women.
"I am not your servant!" Peter squeaks; Severus calmly replies that the Dark Lord has placed the rat there to assist him. Hearing Wormtail's complaints, Snape volunteers to speak to Voldemort himself and ask for Peter to be given more dangerous assignments. The man says he is capable of doing that for himself; "But in the meantime," Snape replies, "bring us drinks. Some of the elf-made wine will do."
Wormtail obeys and scurries away. Snape serves the wine, and proposes a toast to the Dark Lord. Narcissa starts talking, saying she needs help is the only one who can give it to her. He interrupts her for a moment, points his wand at the closed hidden doorway, and causes Peter to yelp from behind it and hurry up the stairs ("My apologies. He has lately taken to listening at doors, I don't know what he means by it...").
Narcissa explains that she was told not to talk of this matter to anyone. Bella sharply reminds her that she should therefore remain quiet, particularly in present company. Snape offers to hear Bellatrix's accusations before Narcissa can continue. He asks her to list the reasons that she does not trust him.
Mistrust
Bellatrix confronts Snape about the following:
- Where was he when the Dark Lord fell?
- Why did he not attempt to find Voldemort?
- What has he been doing all these years?
- Why did he stop Voldemort from obtaining the Philosopher's Stone (PS17)?
- Why did he not return at once after the Dark Lord's rebirth (GF34)?
- Where was he during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (OP35)?
- Why is Harry Potter still alive after all these years?
Snape smiles and orders Bellatrix to pass his reply on to other Death Eaters who doubt him. Before he answers, however, he makes a question of his own: does Bellatrix believe that Voldemort has not made the same inquiries and found Severus' answers satisfactory? Perhaps she believes that Snape has fooled the most accomplished Legilimens in the world?
Bellatrix remains silent, and appears a tad discomfited.
Snape continues, replying to each of her queries:
- He took the post at Hogwarts on Voldemort's orders.
- He did not attempt to find the Dark Lord for the same reason that others such as Avery, Yaxley, the Carrows, Greyback and Lucius did not; Severus believed Voldemort was dead, and the Dark Lord has forgiven those who made that mistake.
- Bellatrix interrupts him, passionately reminding him that she spent several years in Azkaban for Voldemort. Snape says in a bored tone, "Yes, indeed, most admirable. Of course, you weren't a lot of use to him in prison, but the gesture was undoubtedly fine—"
- She accuses him of biding his time enjoying the position of Dumbledore's pet. Snape disagrees, pointing out that Albus would not give him the job of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, fearing it would tempt Severus into his old ways.
- Bellatrix mocks Severus; his greatest sacrifice was not to teach his favourite subject at the school. He claims that Voldemort is pleased that he has not deserted the post, having sixteen years' worth of information regarding Dumbledore to offer. In addition to that, Albus' influence kept Snape out of jail (GF30).
- As for the Philosopher's Stone, Voldemort did not confide in Snape; he, too, feared that his once faithful Death Eater had sided with Dumbledore. Quirrell did not reveal the Dark Lord to Snape, and the Potions master, who deemed Quirrell unworthy of obtaining the Stone, tried to prevent him from succeeding (PS13).
- Snape further admits that he did not return to Voldemort once he felt the Dark Mark burn. By staying at Hogwarts for another two hours, he ensured that Dumbledore would continue to trust him (GF36).
- As for the Ministry, Snape's orders were to remain behind. Dumbledore would surely have noticed if he fought against the Order of the Phoenix.
Following this, Bellatrix has one extra question: what information can Snape possibly have to offer that is so valuable? Snape is content to suggest that it is up to the Dark Lord to choose whom he will confide with what, especially after the fiasco at the Department of Mysteries, where Bellatrix, Lucius and their group were defeated by six teenagers (OP36).
- Snape mentions that he cannot reveal the location of the Order headquarters because he is not its Secret Keeper.
- As for Harry Potter, Severus irritably explains that it would be unwise to risk losing Dumbledore's protection by murdering the Headmaster's favourite student. Moreover, Snape, like many other dark wizards, once believed that Harry could grow up to become a Dark Lord stronger than Voldemort; Severus quickly noticed, however, that the boy had no talent at all (PS8).
Bellatrix further questions him, wondering whether Dumbledore has never suspected of his true allegiance. Snape mentions that which is, in his opinion, Albus' greatest weakness: his faith in people. The Headmaster believed Snape's tale of remorse and welcomed him with open arms (HBP25).
Dumbledore, says Snape, is a great wizard, but he is growing old and weakening. His trust in Severus is unwavering—and therein lies Snape's greatest value to the Dark Lord.
The plan
Snape at last turns to Narcissa, and agrees to listen to her. The blonde hesitates before speaking; Voldemort has ordered her not to speak of the plan to anyone. Severus immediately counsels her not to talk, if those were her orders; Bellatrix looks triumphant, and for the first time in the evening agrees with the man.
He stands and walks to the window. After a short while, pensive, he admits to Narcissa that he knows of the plan; he is one of the few in which Voldemort has confided. If Narcissa hopes that there is a possibility of changing the Dark Lord's mind, he assures her that there is not any.
Narcissa pleads with Snape, staring at him, tears running down her cheeks. Bellatrix mentions that Draco is proud of the task that was entrusted to him, and does not display the hesitation his mother evidently experiences. Without removing her gaze from Severus', Narcissa begins to cry, pleading with him that she knows this is revenge for Lucius' mistake.
Snape looks away from Narcissa's tears, and states that, should Draco succeed, he will be greatly honoured. "How can he when the Dark Lord himself—" sobs Narcissa. She stops herself, and begs Severus to talk to Voldemort. Snape refuses to try: Lucius was in charge of the group in the Department of Mysteries; Lucius failed. The Dark Lord is undoubtedly very angry.
Narcissa loses her nerve and staggers to Severus, clutching the front of his robes; she implores him to do it himself. Snape catches her wrists and removes her hands, saying that Voldemort intends for him to do it eventually—but, in the unlikely event that Draco should succeed, the teacher can remain at Hogwarts as a spy.
Narcissa concludes that it doesn't matter to the Dark Lord whether her son lives or dies. When Severus fails to deny it, she falls at his feet, sobbing; he holds her arms and takes her to the sofa, giving her a glass of wine.
The Unbreakable Vow
He explains that it may be possible for him to help Draco. She kneels in front of Severus, holds his hand and presses her lips to them. She then asks him to swear an Unbreakable Vow.
He echoes the term, his face blank and unreadable. Bellatrix cackles, noting that once more Snape would weasel out of making true commitments to the cause. He does not look at the dark-haired witch; his eyes stare at Narcissa's teary blue ones, and he agrees to make the Vow.
Snape kneels opposite Narcissa, and they grasp right hands. Bellatrix, shocked at his consent, is their Bonder: she stands right above the duo, and places the tip of her wand on their hands.
Severus makes three promises:
- "Will you, Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to fulfil the Dark Lord's wishes?"
- "And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?"
- "And, should it prove necessary... if it seems Draco will fail..." (Snape's hand twitches, but he does not withdraw it) "Will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?"
With each promise, a tongue of flame shoots from Bella's wand and twists with the previous ones, binding itself thickly around Snape and Narcissa's hands.
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|---|---|---|
| The Other Minister | Spinner's End | Will and Won't |
