Chapter 2: Spinner’s End

On a misty, decaying riverside by Spinner’s End, Narcissa Malfoy flees Bellatrix Lestrange’s attempts to stop her and hurries to Severus Snape’s house. Inside, Snape receives them coolly; Peter Pettigrew (Wormtail) lurks and is dismissed. Bellatrix immediately voices deep suspicion of Snape’s allegiance.

Pressed, Snape answers Bellatrix’s charges one by one: he served at Hogwarts on the Dark Lord’s orders, believed Voldemort finished after his fall (as many did), stayed at Hogwarts under Dumbledore’s protection to avoid Azkaban, thwarted Quirrell because the Dark Lord did not trust him then, delayed returning after the Dark Mark’s summons to preserve his value as a spy, and has since provided information that aided Death Eater operations. He calls Harry Potter mediocre and argues Dumbledore’s trust and age are his leverage.

With Bellatrix momentarily checked, Snape turns to Narcissa. She, distraught over Lucius’s imprisonment and the Dark Lord’s anger, tries to reveal a forbidden plan involving her son, Draco. Snape states he already knows of the plan and that the Dark Lord will not be persuaded to change it. Narcissa fears Draco was chosen as punishment and will be sent to his death.

Narcissa begs Snape to take on the mission himself; Snape implies the Dark Lord expects him to act if necessary but insists Draco must attempt it first, preserving Snape’s spying role if Draco succeeds. Desperate, Narcissa demands a binding promise. Despite Bellatrix’s scorn, Snape agrees to make the Unbreakable Vow with Bellatrix as Bonder.

They clasp hands as Bellatrix binds the oath with flames. Snape swears to watch over Draco, to protect him from harm, and, if Draco is likely to fail, to carry out the deed the Dark Lord ordered Draco to perform. The vow seals, committing Snape to fatal consequences if he breaks it and setting the stakes for Draco’s mission.