Spinner’s End
chapter two of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Narcissa Malfoy travels to Snape’s house in the middle of the night to ask for his help, despite her sister Bellatrix’s protests. Snape admits he knows Voldemort’s plan for Draco, and after explaining his allegiances to a suspicious Bellatrix, agrees to make the Unbreakable Vow and help Draco with his task.
But then, with a very faint pop, a slim, hooded figure appeared out of thin air on the edge of the river.
(by Heather Campbell)
After a few seconds, they heard movement behind the door and it opened a crack. A sliver of a man could be seen looking out at them, a man with long black hair parted in curtains around a sallow face and black eyes.
(by Snapesforte)
Narcissa threw back her hood. She was so pale that she seemed to shine in the darkness; the long blonde hair streaming down her back gave her the look of a drowned person.
(by pojypojy)
“Do you really think that the Dark Lord has not asked me each and every one of those questions? And do you really think that, had I not been able to give satisfactory answers, I would be sitting here talking to you?”
(by Vizen)
“Don’t you dare – dn’t you dare blame my husband!” said Narcissa, in a low and deadly voice, looking up at her sister.
(by LMRourke)
“If he has forbidden it, you ought not to speak,” said Snape at once. “The Dark Lord’s word is law.”
“Then I am right, he has chosen Draco in revenge!” choked Narcissa. “He does not mean him to succeed, he wants him to be killed trying!”
(by pojypojy)
“The Unbreakable Vow?”
Snape’s expression was blank, unreadable…. [He] did not look at Bellatrix. His black eyes were fixed upoon Narcissa’s tear-filled blue ones as she continued to clutch his hand.
“Certainly, Narcissa, I shall make the Unbreakable Vow,” he said quietly.
(by Laurence Peguy)
Narcissa spoke.
“Will you, Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to fulfill the Dark Lord’s wishes?”
“I will,” said Snape.
(by Sullen-Skrewt)
A third tongue of flame… shot from the wand, twisted with the others, and bound itself thickly around their clasped hands, like a rope, like a fiery snake.
(by Heather Campbell)
about the chapter
The plot of the Harry Potter series may officially center around Harry’s relationship to Voldemort. But when Half-Blood Prince was released, this chapter confirmed what many of us had already begun to suspect – that sub-plot #1-A is whether Severus Snape is truly on Dumbledore’s side (and therefore Harry’s) or on the side of the Dark Lord. And for the two years that passed before Deathly Hallows was released, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Snape’s allegiance was the central question of the series. Both Dumbledore and Voldemort think he’s on their side; neither is likely to be fooled; both can’t be right. And so with pre-orders for Deathly Hallows books, bookstores made you choose which sticker you wanted – ‘Trust Snape’ or ‘Snape is a very bad man.’ That is the question, no? And while this chapter can certainly be read either way (or a whole host of ways in between), it makes for some fascinating speculation.
Something You May Not Have Noticed
Of the many, many ways to read Snape’s conversation with Bellatrix and Narcissa, I think I find it most intriguing to read from Bellatrix’s perspective. She doesn’t trust Snape from the outset; and while he gives her a seemingly convincing story for why he is on the Dark Lord’s side, she’s smart enough to realize that he could spin an equally convincing story for being on Dumbledore’s side, too. And then, he says he knows of the Dark Lord’s plan for Draco – but the kicker is, he doesn’t ever actually discuss what the plan is. He could easily be bluffing. Until he then makes the Unbreakable Vow, and agrees to help. Can’t you just imagine her going home that night, and her head spinning trying to work out just where this guy stands? I never thought I’d be able to relate to Bellatrix, but this is certainly an area we had in common at the conclusion of this conversation.
The Power of Magic
While talking to Bellatrix, Snape at one point describes Voldemort as “the most accomplished Legilimens the world has ever seen.” Which is interesting, because we’ve otherwise been led to believe that when a wizard is employing Occlumency, a good Legilimens knows that Occlumency is being used to block their intrusions into the person’s mind. It’s interesting, of course, because both Dumbledore and Voldemort use Legilimency, and Snape has to be blocking at least one of them sometimes, right? So do they know that he’s blocking them out of his mind, and trust him anyway? I think it’s more likely that when a wizard gets good enough at Occlumency, it’s possible to block others from intrusion without their knowing that you’re doing so. It’s a fascinating game, with a fascinating conclusion. After all, if Voldemort is the world’s most accomplished Legilimens, and Snape is able to block out parts of his mind without Voldemort realizing it, wouldn’t that make Snape the world’s most accomplished Occlumens?
Something to Remember
Spinner’s End seems a funny place for Snape to reside, and based on what Bellatrix says about it (“this Muggle dunghill” where “we must be the first of our kind to ever set foot”) you have to wonder why he would make this choice. We don’t know much about his background, but this almost certainly wouldn’t be the family home of pure-blood wizards. Though for that matter, it’s unlikely he’d be “the Dark Lord’s favorite” if he were a Muggle-born, either….
This is possibly my favorite chapter of the series. Besides its significance to the plot, Snape is in his element, and he’s actually *funny* here. I remember reading an interview with Alan Rickman somewhere, in which he says he doesn’t think Snape has a very developed sense of humor (or something to that effect). I think that’s true, but this is where his (sadistic) sense of humor is funny to the reader. Or at least, to me. It’s so nice to see Bellatrix getting pwned.
Inky Squirrel said this on February 4, 2010 at 10:14 am
SPOILER ALERT
Perhaps Snape is lying when he calls Voldywhatsit “the world’s most accomplished Legilimens”? We see in Deathly Hallows that Voldy thinks he’s the only person to have discovered the Room of Requirement and how he underestimates the power of ‘lesser creatures’ such as House-Elves. We’ve also seen enough evidence that Snape is an accomplished and powerful wizard. Perhaps he uses Voldywhatsit’s ego to his advantage? That is to say, Snape’s Occlumency is superior to Voldy’s Legilimency but Voldy, thinking he’s the best thing since sliced bread and unable to read Snape’s mind, assumes there’s no way he could be hiding anything from him.
Ozzie said this on February 4, 2010 at 11:04 am
We don’t know very much about Snape’s mother, but we know the reaction of a pure blood’s family about his relatives when they married muggles (Sirius Black’s family) [spolier: later on will see another pure blood family and their reactions for just looking to a muggle]. Let’s assume that Snape’s mother was expelled from home and forced to live with Sirius father: that would explain Snape’s presence in that place.
Jose Lopes said this on February 4, 2010 at 12:36 pm
I have been wondering if it’s not really Snape in this scene. I read/heard somewhere, maybe even on this site somewhere, that perhaps Dumbledore took Polyjuice potion and became Snape. Snape is SO not himself in this scene, with humor and manners, that if you read it again and where it says Snape, substitute Dumbledore, and you’ll see that it mostly fits how Dumbledore speaks. My only question with this would be how Dumbledore and/or Snape knew Narcissa and Bellatrix would be coming to see Snape? Maybe I am just reading too much into this! But Snape is just not himself in how he speaks!
And why was Snape guarding Wormtail? If it’s in the book I can’t think of it right now. I have read the books so many times but have been trying not to read them again!
Jennifer C. said this on February 4, 2010 at 2:52 pm
that’s a good point by Ozzie – we know how arrogant voldemort is about his powers and therefore it’s highly unlikely that he would think another wizard could ever be better than him at occlumency so he probably never even suspected. He had so much confidence in his legillimency ability that he didn’t even consider the possibility that Snape could be hiding something.
Heather said this on February 4, 2010 at 3:53 pm
To Jennifer C.; although you make an interesting point about Snape possibly being Dumbledore in disguise, it’s also important to remember that we usually see Snape from Harry’s perspective and since he hates Snape with a vengence it’s unlikely we’d ever see him in a good light. Plus Snape hates Harry and obviously he’s not going to be nice when the Boy-who-lived is around
Irene said this on February 4, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Ooh, Ozzie, very good thinking – I love that idea! Snape is smart enough to do it, too. Though to be fair, Dumbledore has also called Voldemort “the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen.” And while Voldy underestimates things like love, we don’t ever really see him misjudge pure magical power. Hmm… it’s a good thought.
Irene, you made a good point, and I’d just add to it also that I can’t imagine Rowling would have written a scene intending it to be someone in disguise, yet never reveal who that was. There used to be a million Polyjuice theories floating around, but now that all seven books are out it’s pretty hard for me to fathom that she would have intended it to be so. She may have written Snape differently intentionally (or may have simply written this scene badly, though I don’t think that’s the case), but I think the odds that Snape is actually Dumbledore are just about zero. Also, we’ll later see Dumbledore and Snape talking about how Snape made the Unbreakable Vow, so….
John Kearns said this on February 4, 2010 at 4:01 pm
That’s interesting, Jennifer C, I’ve never thought of it that way before. I noticed there was something different about Snape in this chapter, but I figure that would just be because he is with “friends”, as opposed to in class, with Dumbledore, or with Voldemort, which is where we otherwise see him.
Alex said this on February 4, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Yes to the general concensus – Snape is freakily brilliant here. Every word he says could so easily support his being on either side. He convinces Narcissa, who is desperate, but does he ever really convince Bellatrix, who is jealous of him and frequently takes extreme action herself?
Se-verus: the MAJOR question here is whether the truth lies.
Spinner’s End, for the record, is almost certainly in one of the satellite towns of Manchester. I think we are supposed to assume (spoiler) that it was Snape’s father’s house. It’s interesting that Snape never moved away. People who live in those tiny two-up-two-down terraces usually rent, not buy; but don’t we have the impression that Snape is now the owner?
Grace has Victory said this on February 4, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Grace has Victory, you’re almost certainly right about Snape’s house being his father’s. Remember Petunia says in DH33 that Snape is from Spinner’s End. Doesn’t make a lot of sense for him to just move down the street… but it’s also interesting given what we know of his relationship with his parents, no? You’d think he’d want to get away from there as an adult.
John Kearns said this on February 4, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Wormtail, sadly for him, is one of nature’s victims. Voldemort, whether through psychology or legilimency, sees right through him and out the other side: his loyalty arises firmly from fear and weakness. He would be anxious and fearful at being placed in Snape’s home as a kind of grudging butler, knowing that he dared not put a toe out of line – and wouldn’t Lord V just love exercising his power like that? And, with the other half of his brain, Lord V might well have the usual suspicions that everyone possesses about Snape, and try to rattle him as well with the idea that PP is observing his every move too. By luck or skill, both men come out of the experience unscathed: this leads back to the question of how good a wizard PP is (good meaning accomplished). Is his bumbling-klutz appearance real or a very good cloak for a very competent, if cowardly, man?
Snape’s address: perhaps he’d enjoy living in his father’s house because now it was his to do what he liked with (all those improbable bookcases). That could well be the explanation of his otherwise odd behaviour in this chapter as well: for once in his life he’s enjoying himself! Narcissa’s powers are unknown, though Lucius is no high-flyer; Bellatrix is probably too unbalanced to concentrate on what she’s doing (usually. She made an exception for her unfavourite cousin); so he could relax and hoodwink them without a shiver of dread. Yes, it’s a malicious way to have fun … but doesn’t that mesh with his character?
Deborah Hubbard said this on February 5, 2010 at 4:18 am
Re: the ‘most accomplished legilimens’ thing… [SPOILER ALERT]
Snape’s not the only one who kept things from Voldemort. Granted, Regulus was hardly one of Voldemort’s favorites, but you’d think Vold would be at least smart enough to keep an eye on him after sending his house elf to (in his mind) certain death. Little Reggie plotted a major coup from that event, and Voldemort had no idea–he would have moved the horcrux if he’d found out, even after Regulus’ death, or killed Kreacher for certain, the only one who could have told Voldemort.
There IS the possibility that Snape’s saying that about Voldemort because VOLDEMORT says that about Voldemort, and you don’t disagree with your megalomaniac boss, even when he’s not around. Snape, as a talented Occlumens, would know differently. Heck, BELLA probably knows differently, since she’s skilled enough to teach Draco to a point where Snape can’t push into his mind (or doesn’t, though I don’t see why Snape wouldn’t). All the other Death Eaters, the ones without that skill, would simply see Voldemort’s ‘most powerful legilimens’ as fact, and be even more afraid of him. Most of Voldemort’s power over the wizarding world, after all, comes from the fear he wields. Even thirteen years past his ‘death,’ people still whisper about You-Know-Who. Skeeter’s certainly not libeling him like she did with another great wizard of the era. And Grindelwald, another undoubtedly powerful wizard, didn’t command that same level of fear. Tom, on the other hand, started learning how to terrify his peers from a very young age.
Spider said this on February 5, 2010 at 6:51 am
You know how some people think that the third film of Lord of the Rings has too many endings? Well, I think this book has too many beginnings. We’ve seen before how a book starts from someone else’s point of view, but here we have two chapters before we see Harry. Clearly this one belongs in this book, so I think “The Other Minister” should have been put into a previous book.
[Spoiler] Isn’t it ironic how Narcissa goes to Snape because “the Dark Lord trusts him” and both end up deceiving Voldemort?
By the way, Snape states here, that he is the one that Voldemort thought had left him for ever.
Kim said this on February 5, 2010 at 8:01 am
Do you know, I never once thought that Snape speaks differently when with his peers rather than as a teacher? LOL! I am so used to rethinking and analyzing JKR’s intentions that I latched right on to the Polyjuice potion! Perhaps, too, Snape thinks of himself as superior to Bellatrix and Narcissa and so speaks differently in this scene.
Jennifer C. said this on February 5, 2010 at 10:50 am
I agree that we see Snape differently here because they are not in class. As much as Snape truly hates Harry because of James, I also believe even if he *liked* Harry, he would need to be horrible to him in class because he needs Malfoy to report back to his father that Snape is mean to Harry. I also agree that it’s his father’s house. I don’t think he bothered to move because he is a Hogwarts professor and only spends summer vacation there, so why bother. (He always seems to be at Hogwarts over Christmas.)
Anna said this on February 5, 2010 at 10:58 am
Spider, your point about Regulus is interesting. My impression from the story was that the thing that tipped Regulus over the edge was Voldemort’s attempt to kill Kreacher – and that it was only a couple of days after that that Regulus died himself. I guess I always assumed that Regulus didn’t have time in the meantime to see Voldemort again, and therefore give him the chance to read his mind. From Kreacher’s description of how Regulus was “not himself,” it doesn’t seem like it would have been that hard.
John Kearns said this on February 5, 2010 at 11:26 am
Regarding Snape home:
I also think, it is in a borough of Greater Manchester and I think, it´s in a suburb of Oldham, probably in the course of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. There are a few abandoned mills, a fox was mentioned, and the Canal was blocked at some places in the 90s, so that the polluted water couldn´t escape.
And now to Snape, Narcissa and Bellatrix:
We know for sure, that Bellatrix was not together with Snape at Hogwarts, since she is 9 years older. But Narcissa is just 5 years older than Snape, so they were together at Hogwarts, and thy might have been close socially there.
Marco said this on February 5, 2010 at 3:26 pm
My view about Snape and Peter: they are there to spy on each other. Voldemort is not so arrogant as to blindly believe Snape is fully loyal to him. He knows Peter made a very good spy in the Order, so now he’ll have him spy on Snape and see what he gets up to. Similarly, Snape is there to keep an eye on Peter, because Voldy KNOWS Peter’s loyalty wavers, and that Peter will just help the “biggest bully,” whether that be Voldy or not. So now he has the two of them keeping na eye on each other so he doesn’t have to.
hpboy13 said this on February 6, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Marco, it has been a subject of endless debate as to what JKR was doing with her numbers. They just don’t add up, and she has frankly admitted as much in interview. In particular, the dates on the Black family tapestry are ridiculous – too many 13-year-old parents.
Sirius Black said that Snape knew Bellatrix at Hogwarts. He was unlikely to be wrong about his enemy and his cousin. Having said that, Bellatrix was certainly older than Snape (as he is only 14 years older than Nymphadora) so they probably weren’t close friends. It’s possible that Snape was the same age as Narcissa, thuogh she was more likely a couple of years ahead of him.
hpboy13, I agree that Snape and Peter are spying on each other. The risk that they would team up against Voldy is practically nil because Snape would never be stupid enough to trust Peter. It does force both of them into a state of constant vigilance.
Grace has Victory said this on February 9, 2010 at 4:59 am
Grace, Sirius said Snape knew Bella at Hogwarts, and while that does imply they went to Hogwarts together, it could just mean that Snape knew Bella while SNAPE was at Hogwarts. Bella, I believe, graduated the year before Snape and the Marauders showed up. Narcissa and Andromeda would have been at Hogwarts still. (Yes, the tapestry dates are messed up, but until JKR gives us a revised version, I hold the dates as canon. Besides, it’s fun to think Pollux Black was getting himself in trouble at such a young age. Entitled attitude, disregard for the rules, handsome, and not so mindful of protection? 13-year-olds DO get pregnant…)
Voldemort’s growing in power while Snape’s at Hogwarts, and I’m sure Bellatrix was one of his first recruits from that generation. It would then be logical for her to turn around and recruit the younger Slytherins. Sirius also said Snape came to Hogwarts knowing more about the Dark Arts than anyone else, so young, half-blood, and greasy though he was, he was talented and learned in all the right areas. Bellatrix would have latched on to him as soon as she heard about him, I bet, coaxing him to Voldemort’s side. Also, the Lestranges… who else was he said to have known from Hogwarts? There were a few other Death Eaters. We know Bellatrix was close with the Lestranges, as she married one, but who’s to say the others weren’t younger and able to take Snape on as mentors at Hogwarts? On Hogsmeade weekends or whatever, they might meet up with their graduated classmates, like Bellatrix.
And to John–the thing that’s bugged me about Regulus’ death is what Sirius knows of it. “From what I heard, he got in so far, then panicked about what he was being asked to do and tried to back out.” Someone had to be seeing some sort of signs in order for Sirius to have heard that much, at least–but it is true, Regulus could have simply been -panicking- and not actually -plotting- his coup at that point
Spider said this on February 10, 2010 at 5:38 am
i love this chapter we learn so much before the book even begins before we even see harry ok so we need to get on to harry the book has kept us waiting long enough but we got to see other characters
i love scenes between villians this was perfect jkr could not have written a better chapter between voldemorts death eaters as for peter and snape voldemort probably assigned him to obey snape and for his part snape took advantage of this by getting revenge on peter for betraying the potters and causing lily’s death
seekerbillpotter said this on February 11, 2010 at 2:46 am
The parents of the Marauders and their classmates were certainly not blessed with long lives. By the time James and Lily were 21, their parents had died. We know that Peter’s mother was alive when the Marauders were 21, but his father isn’t mentioned. Sirus’s father died before the Marauders were 21, and his mother a few years after. Lupin’s parents aren’t mentioned except in Lupin’s brief reminiscences about his childhood. And here we see Snape, age 36, living in his parents’ house – and no parents in sight. It’s possible, of course, that the senior Snapes made their fortune and retired to Italy, but somehow I don’t think so…
Billie said this on February 16, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Billie, that’s a really interesting observation, esp. considering how we’ve learned in previous books how hard it is for wizards to die in accidental ways, like falls and car crashes. How did they all die so young?…Other than due to literary necessity, which is often fatal ;)
Anna said this on February 17, 2010 at 10:45 am
Yes, I think some of those death certificates should have listed “literary necessity” as the cause of death!
Billie said this on February 19, 2010 at 4:40 pm
For the “something to remember section,” you were wondering why Snape was residing at Spinner’s End. At the end of the Deathly Hallows, when Harry is looking through Snape’s memories, Petunia says that Snape was from Spinner’s End. This meant that ha spent his summers there for the whole beginning of his life. Rowling also says that Petunia mentions it as though she wouldn’t recommend living there, so maybe, since that place wasn’t as popular, he thought it would be safe to live there.
Just a thought.
Bella + James P. said this on March 2, 2010 at 9:46 pm
My thoughts always were that he continued to reside at Spinners End because it was the house he lived in when he met Lily, therefore being his only physical connection left to her.
On a different note, this is my favourite chapter in the series, because it confirms what we already know- Snape is a total genius. With both Voldemort and Dumbledore being great legilimens’, and him fooling both of them, he would have had to spin a story that was 100% true, but be unable to tell which side he’s on from just listening to it. With Voldemort being so arrogant, it wouldn’t be hard to convince him that, no, Snape’s really on your side, and was working as a spy to stay out of Azkaban.
Also… is he so mean to Peter, not because he doesn’t trust him, but because he was part of the group that bullied him so completely throughout his schooling? Just a thought…
(Sorry for the length)
Adele said this on March 12, 2010 at 12:34 pm