When I read the chapter where Snape kills Dumbledore, I did not jump to the conclusion that he had betrayed him.

I think Snape killed Dumbledore because he was put in a position where he had to do it.

Here is why:

* Dumbledore was desperate to get to Snape. He knew the only way he could have survived the situation was by getting to Snape before Draco or the other DE's found him. Why? Because...

* Dumbledore new Draco had been enlisted by Voldemort to kill him, therefore I think it was Dumbledore who instructed Snape to offer to make the Unbreakable Vow to give Draco some protection as well as strengthing his position as a Death Eater.

* Dumbledore was very calm when faced with Draco and the other DE's, and only started to plead when he saw Snape. He was pleading for Snape to kill him because he knew Draco couldn't bring himself to do it. Dd was preventing Voldemorts backlash at Draco and his family (whom we can assume Voldy would have murdered as he threatened)and also prevented Snapes death because of the Unbreakable Vow.

By doing all this he ensured Snapes would remain in an excellent position amongst the DE's to help defaet Voldy.
Also I think Dd always knew he would die before the end ever since he heard the Prophecy, because it said Harry would defeat Voldy, not Dd who is a far more powerful and accomplished wizard in reality.

Do you think Snape is a traitor to Dumbledore or to Voldemort?

as i have pointed this out before, snape was seering when deflecting harrys curses and making fun of him, it seems to me that if snape really didnt want to do it and dumbledore was pleading him to then he would not be laughing his heart out minutes later

I personaly have always beleived Snape to be evil. While i was reading the book i thought that Dd had been betrayed, but since reading all of these theories on here i must say that Snape killing Dd on Dd's orders does sound like a very Jk rowling move. Ofcourse Snape is still going to pay for that..

Razberry2 I agree with many of your points, partially because book 6 and 7 are linked and JK loves her Red Harrings that I believe Snape to be not all he says he is. DD could have told Snape to do anything possible to stay within the DEs, even if this means killing someone. Snape is not new to Unforgiveables. And once you really do one you can't ever take it back.

I view the fact that Snape prevented Harry from doing one was to protect him in a way from putting his feet into "that" pond.

I agree with razberry. I believe that Dumbledore was begging Snape to kill him. But I still miss him. I also think Draco is a good person, and that he was only going to kill Dumbledore, because Voldemort threatened to kill his family.

even if it is true, even if snape was really fallowing dumbledores orders, harry wont hesitate at all if he encounters him again, he'll kill him, no doubt, even if snape confeses he wasnt acting on his own will, nobody is going to belive him, harry feels like snape sentenced his own death by killing dumbledore

Draco was pretty much expected to be a Death Eater. His mother and father are both loyal to Voldemort and I'm sure they expected him to to be the same way. I do not think that Draco is a good person. Maybe he couldn't kill Dumbledore, but that doesn't make him good. It just means that he can't bring himself to take the life from someone. He's done some pretty horrible things to Harry and many others.

I'm torn between the two options. There are so many reasons as to why Snape would be on either side. I'm not positive about anything right now, but I am leaning toward Snape being on Voldemort's side.

I also think that when Dumbledore begged saying, 'Severus' he was speaking as if he knew that Snape was on Voldemort's side but was begging him to remember everything he'd done for him and trying to get him to realize that Voldemort's side isn't the right side to be on... That Dumbledore was giving him one last chance to rethink it, and do the right thing.

I don't think Draco is good, and I don't think he will ever join the good side. He will never be Harry's friend, and he will be a Death Eater. It's something that can't be changed now that he's pretty much told Voldemort "Okay, I'm here, I'll do what you need done." I mean, once he's agreed to do anything for Voldemort, that's when, IMO, someone is officially 'bad.'

And Malfoy didn't go through with it anyway. He only got the Death Eaters in. Snape did the dirty work, which he obviously didn't have any trouble doing... Although Draco DID have trouble going through with it doesn't mean that he still wants to be on the good side. He's sixteen years old!! I'm surprised Voldemort expected something like that out of someone his age. I'm not at all surprised that he couldn't do it.

The problem is we know very little about Snape. I mean we just found out about his mother and his background. I think it's odd that the title is HBP when there's very little of Snape in the book except obviously for him being the one to kill Dd.

Personally I believe that Snape will show up here and there in 7 and even (in his Snapish way) help Harry. Even in the end of HBP he was telling Harry how to properly hex someone while only deflecting (and not returning) Harry's hexes.

The reason he freaked out when he was called a coward was because (like everyone here is saying) Dumbledore begged him to go through with it. Hagrid also let it slip to Harry that he heard them arguing and Snape saying he didn't want to do it anymore.

He's an important character and there's a big role he still has to play in the final book. I think (hope).

I hope Harry kills Snape even if he was doing it on dd's orders. All through the books i never trusted Snape just like harry and Ron said. :angry: i hope he dies in the next same as Draco even though he puts a little zing! into the books. One more book 2 go cant wait :D
luv ya's
tabby

u ahve to remember though that malfoy was being threatened of being killed, and u saw how he was crying in the bathroom, im srry but i cant see any evil on him, he might think hes evil but hes not, he was gonna take dumbledores offer of protection had it not been for the other death eaters and snape butting in

Hmm... reading this post I realized something. It's kind of odd that Dumbledore would be pleading to Snape for his life if he trusted him completely, as he so recently had said he did. He trusted Snape completely... so he would have felt no need to "plead" with Severus for his life, would he? He would know that Snape would be coming to his aid...

Therefore, if he really trusted Snape as explicitly as I am certain that he did, he would have to have been pleading with Severus to kill him.

Glad to see that other people picked up on this. There were what I consider to be other hints that Snpe did not betray DD and that DD knew it was coming. DD told Harry that he (not we) would have to find the objects. Also the hints in the cave, where DD said his (Harry's) blood was of much more value than his. Also the fact that he had told the order to patrol hogwarts like he knew something would happen. He also sent Harry after his cloak even though he knew Harry was always carring it with him because he had told him to. This gave Harry a chance to tell R and H. Also when Snipe yelled No as the other death eaters were going to kill Harry. I know he told them that the dark lord wants him, but it is writen in a way that stands out. Plus Snipe stoped running when Harry called him a coward, almost like he was wanting to say more than what he did.

Snipe as a spy would have more value aganst Vol as a spy plus Harry and the order would still be able to get advice from DD, As head master of Hogwarts his painting will be in his office to advise them and was hinted to in the book. I think in book 7 Harry will think about the portait and visit DD even if the school is closed.

you have raised some really interesting points superfrk, which help to back up my theory. I am re-reading the book, though I'm only a third the way through at the moment.

Hope to come up with even more to nail this one to the wall! I really believe in it.

I'd totally have to say that if Snape was on the good side, he could've AK'ed the other couple death eaters, or at least imbolized them and then dealt with them. If they all died, no one could attest to his betrayal of Voldemort. I say he's bad, to the core, and must be shot... er, cursed.

as I said in another post...

I, and many others I imagine, think that Snape made the Unbreakable Vow because Dumbledore ordered him to do so, in order to sway the DE that were timid about Snape, like Lestrange, that he was only on the DE and LV's side...

Also, as Harry and DD were making there way up to the castle, the only person DD wanted to see, or requested to see, was Snape, as to not ruin the master plan. We also see that when Snape emerges in DD office he stops to survey the situation and hesitates, waits for DD's order to carry out the task at hand, and then kills DD. Later, right before Snape escapes he has a fight with Harry, although its not really a fight, Snape blocks Harry's feeble attempts and eggs him on, in a most teacher-like way, to try harder and to focus his mind. Snape had every chance to cast a spell on Harry, not to kill but to maim or weaken him for LV, but did not attempt to do so. Finally, Harry calls Snape a coward for killing his parents and Snape in his livid repsonse gives the appearance that he is most regretful of having to kill DD, and is trying to non-verbally communicate that Harry is not aware of the entire truth of the situation...

as i posted before i think draco is critical to this, and will play a major role in the last novel. Im gunna try to show my opinion on things...

Draco is not a good person, nor does he ever try to be. He lies, cheats, fights, all those wonderful slytherin things. however he is determined and passionate about what he does. Thats why its so important that he didn't kill voldemort.

Its obvious draco is a powerful wizard - he performs complicated curses and apparently understands how to use the killing curse - at 16. Dumbledore sees his strengths and understands that he has not yet become a lost cause, there is still hope he will fight against the dark lord

Voldemort also recognizes Dracos power, but he can not be fully sure Draco will be loyal. Voldemort tells Draco to kill Dumbledore simply to destroy any little bit of goodness left in him, to completely convert him to a death eater. This doesn't happen. Snape saves him from this, I predict this is dumbledores plan.

This leaves some possible scenarios open - Voldemort will not be pleased with Draco not fulfilling orders. It is possible he won't do anything as the deed was finished eventually, but judging by the character thusfar it is safe to say some punishment will be laid down. As he had threatened his family, and Lucius is in Azkaban and doesn't seem to share the same connection with draco as his mother does, It would be safe to think she would be the target for his punishment.

She already is in poor grounds with voldemort, i am sure - her unwillingness to support Draco's mission probably did not go over well with the dark lord. Her alliances surely have shifted somewhat... She is disposable.

Killing her would do a few possible things - drive draco in to position to become a death eater for life, or fuel his hatred further for voldemort. Im going off on tangents here, but I simply adore what a wonderful secnario rowling made out of a somewhat empty character in just one book. There are tons of possibilities

Hi Wilikeh, you have made some really great observations, and just before I read this I started a thread on Draco's path so that it can be discussed more thoroughly.

i agree with razzberry. i think dumbledore knew of the unbreakable vow. snape certainly didnt want to make the vow in the first place, but it was crucial to do so. remember how he paused when asked to carry out what draco was supposed to do if draco failed? if dumbledore knew of this vow, he would also know that snape would have to kill him. so why would he continually ask for snape? when dumbledore first started giving harry these lessons, i could tell dumbledore knew harry might have to defeat voldemort without his help. dumbledore is a very wise wizard, and would be able to tell if snape was using occlumency against him. remember when snape could detect draco using occlumency? if dd knew snape was using occlumency against him, he would know that something was up. dumbledore would definately rather die than have snape die since snape is crucial to the order of the phoenix, and dumbledore was not afraid of death at all. dumbledore probably also would rather have died than draco. he knew that if he wasnt killed right then that 2 innocent lives would be taken: snapes and dracos. he would rather die than have 2 people die. he was getting old and probably didnt have a whole lot of years left and he knew it. harry remarked upon this in previous books, how wary and old dumbledore sometimes looked. its too bad dumbledore died and i cried a lot, but he kknew he had to die, and snape is most definately on the good side. dumbledore was most definately pleading for snape to kill him, not for him to let him live

I agree with razzberry. DD wouldn't plea for his life, he's way too proud for that and one of the greatest wizards too. I'm sure that Snape killed on DD's orders. My question is why did DD give him this order? Was it really just a sacrifice for the good side, or was DD sick, too old, etc.? I mean remember his black burned hand!

I definitely agree that Snape is not on Voldemort's side.
Well firstly, I doubt Jo would've done that... it just seems too crude, too simple & straightforward. This makes it rather intrigueing, to find out what exactly Snape is going to do in the final book, and how he will help Harry out. And how Harry will react to this too.
Yes, Dumbledore may have a knack for trusting people, even when no one else does, but he is not a stupid man. On the contrary, he is extremely sharp, and he never said that he 'believed' he had a reason to trust Snape: he said he had an iron clad reason to. And he's also not stupid enough not to take into account that Snape is a very accomplished Occlumens. Obviously the reason he trusts him is way more convinving and credible to think that he may be using Occlumency against him. Snape might be a good Occlumens, but Dumbledore is one of the best and most powerful wizards to ever have lived, dont think for one second that he might not be even a better Occlumens than Snape - as far as i can remember, we were never quite told this.
On the subject of Dumbledore pleading... yes it was very out of character, as many seem to think. But dont forget that, while he knew Malfoy would not have the strength to kill him, he also knew that the Death Eaters and the werewolf who then walked in were more than capable and willing to... yet he seemed perfectly calm and was even humouring them. However, with Snape, he was pleading, so out of character, which means that the only reason why he'd do that was if he was not pleading for him to spare him his life - but to spare his own, or better said, to keep himself alive and therefore useful to Harry and the possibility of defeating Voldemort. I believe that Dumbledore must see Snape's involvement with Voldemort and the death eaters crucial to Harry bringing an end to Voldemort. Had Snape not killed Dumbledore, his cover would've been blown and this crucial role of Snape's would've vanished. Knowing Dumbledore, he must've thought his own death was much less important.

Oooh, I hadn't even considered any of this, I was so quick to judge Snape!

But it does make sense actually, it is too obvious of JK to make Snape out to be the bad guy! Plus I did think to give the game away in 2nd chapter was a bit early, oooh I like these theories indeed!

you guys are making very good points about the whole occlumency thing. It does help to back the theory up that no matter how good Snape was at it, it would be guarenteed that Dd would be better!

I think Snape's really betraying You-know-who. In the second chapter, he said too good reasons to be true. All the times Jo had written something like this, it wasn't true. It always ended at the end of the book (Quirrel,...), but, as we know, 6 and 7 are like one book.

I think that Dumbledore had chosen this way, because Snape came. It was because of the vow, he knew Snape can't break it, so he choosed death instead.

The only thing that don't fits are those words Dumbledore said before his death. But I believe Jo can explain them in 7. Every theory is unbelievable because of some thing. Think we must just wait

Wolfi

I agree with most of what has been said here, i want to also add that as Dumbledore knew thet the DADA job is cursed why would he of allowed Snape to take up the possition unless he knew about Voldermort's plan and the unbreakable vow? to me it all fits as my first reaction to Dumbledore death was that he was begging Snape to get it over with as Harry was present, that brings me to another point, if Dumbledore didnt know that Snape had taken the vow why would he of cast the freezing charm upon harry so he was unable to go for help?- because he wanted harry to witness his death as to fuel hiHarry's hatred towards Voldermort to make him able to destroy him in the next book

Yeah, he would of frozen Harry as he knew that he would tried to prevent his death too and it needed to happen. I can't believe we have to wait at least another two years to see if our theories are right!

I think the stuff about DD pleading to snape to kill him is right because, in book 5, snape alerted the order that harry had gone to the department of mysteries. surely this would have made the job of the death eaters alot harder because now they had to fight the order. so why would snape do this if he was on the side of voldemort?

I agree totally but the question still is why DD'd death needed to happen? Was is only out of sacrifice for Draco? Sorry guys but I'm really curious!

Well, I initially thought snape was a jerk all along, but this does kinda make sense. Still, why would DD plead? WHat was that for? And, Snape was taunting Harry when they were running across the grounds, and then also, he told him that he was the HBprince. at was the significance of that?

Snape may have a really important role to play in part 7...though i don't think harry would understand the reason why Snape acted the way he did....also, Draco might come to the good side, seeing DD sacrificed his life.....for what...i dunno, and i don't even know how this helps in defeating Lord Voldy.

MOD EDIT: Netspeak spotted. Please read the rules again. It's 'thot' and 'tho' in case you're wondering but I've edited it this time. Please avoid them in the future. Thanks.

I think he pleads because snape doesn't really want to kill him. I mean who would (besides voldy). He begs 'in a soft voice' snape to go through the whole procedure (sorry, I know that this is a stupid word for this situation).

I really don't want Harry to kill Snape. After Sirius, Snape has been my favourite character in the books (I like complex people) and I can't see how Harry killing him will do anything to resolve the 20 odd years of conflict that Snape and Harry's father had.

In terms of who he's betraying, I think that Snape could somewhat be in it for his own. I think he's a lot more powerful than what people in the book had previously given him credit for. I'd like to believe that he's betrayed Voldemort and that the killing of Dd has been a matter of necessity (due to the vow and Dumbledore being in pain), however I think that his conflict with James has resulted in a lot of internal conflict and therefore, wants to make himself superior to Harry.

I really think Snape is on Harry's side. If Snape was on Voldemort's side, it would mean that Dumbledore was wrong about Snape all along and I just cannot accept that. I believe there is a strong link between Snape and Dumbledore that we don't know about yet. Dumbledore must have had very good reasons to trust Snape this way.

I think Dumbledore froze Harry to protect him, but also to prevent Harry to do anything inconsiderate to Snape and mess with DD's plan.

Dumbledore has passed all the information he believed to be important to Harry but he never answered his question about why DD trusts Snape. I think he did so to protect Snape's cover. Telling Harry would have meant telling Voldemort because of their connection together.

i believe snape's 'dumbledore's man, through and through'.. snape's always been misunderstood anyway from book 1 onwards.. it would be a let down if he's bad bad in book 7. there's got to be a twist somewhere.
and dd's death was definitely planned. it would sound cheesy if the greatest wizard didn't see it coming. bet wise dd had foreseen it through bizzare trelwaney's. come on, it's like in star wars, when obi-wan kenobi was fighting darth vader, and luke 'happened' to be there... and i agree that harry was there to see dd's death just like luke saw obi-wan's. same effect i guess.. he'd be more persistent, and not relying solely on dd in future. he has to do it alone.
and harry will end up killing snape or snape dies trying to protect harry, whatever, someone quite important has got to die besides voldy in book 7. nevertheless, it will make a dramatic ending. and all of us will feel sorry for good old snape.
i like draco a lot - hogwart's 'charming', bad boy. hm, he was very confident at the beginning of the book, seemed pleased with himself about his first new job from voldy. his confidence must have crumbled when he faced dd. you know he couldn't bring himself to kill dd instantly, bet tom riddle would. i'd like to think he'd turn to harry's side, last minute. because it is never too late, as dd said.

MOD EDIT: Minor netspeak. Please read the rules. It's been edited anyway. Thanks.

I disagreee with some of these. I think that Snape really was with Voldy's side all along. He could have done alot of things to stop all this. he could have not made the vow, and killed Narcissa, Bellatirx, and Wormtail then hurt himself and go to the dark lord and make up a story. Snape is an acomplished Legilimens so he can do it. Also, he would have known that DD would keep him safe so there is no reason to betray them. He could have killed the three death eaters he was with when he killed DD, and stunned Draco then modified his memory. He did not have to kill DD. DId you see the look on his face when he was about to kill DD, pure hatred and DD was pleading...he sounded worried for once...Snape is gone.

Also, Snape, if he was really good, would rather die than betray DD.

I absolutely agree that Snape killed Dumbledore on Dumbledore's orders, and just want to add a couple of points.
First, why did Dumbledore finally give Snape the DADA job? I think because Dumbledore knew that, because of Voldemort's orders to Draco and Snape's unbreakable vow, that at some point during the year he was going to die and that Snape would have to be the one to kill him. He really knows the end is coming -- he transfers all of his learning about Voldemort's past to Harry, explains to Harry's relatives that he must come back one more time, tells Harry that he should rely on Ron and Hermione, etc. Dumbledore let Snape have the DADA job finally because once Snape killed Dumbledore, he would have to flee Hogwarts, and the DADA job was almost like Dumbledore saying that he knows tha tSnape doesn't want to kill him, but that he must for the Order and to remain a spy, so in exchange Dumbledore gives him the DADA job.
Second, Dumbledore sets Harry up to understand what it is like to have to trust Dumbledore completely, even if it means killing Dumbledore on his own orders. Harry doesn't know that the potion that he force-feeds Dumbledore won't kill him and suspects that the potion might really harm Dumbledore, but he force-feeds it to him anyway because he promised Dumbledore that he would. That sort of devotion is what Snape experienced, and Harry had to go through it to fully understand it -- I hope that HArry will understand it in the next book and not just blindly rage at Snape!!

come on, you knew something was gonna happen to snape from quite near the beginning of the book really, when he got the defence against the dark arts post, which was confirmed later when dumbledor said after voldy wanted the job no one had it for more than a year, so snape was doomed to either die or leave, which dd must have figured, so was as other people have deduced, something more going on here than there first seems? hmmmmmmmmm

I shall attempt to tackle your argument, Siriusjr, so here goes:

razz: I just don't think that DD wanted to die...he knew that he had to stay alive because he had to find the horcrux's . He could not and would NEVER leave Harry to do it all by himself. He knows that Harry would need his help in the end. He just didn't want to leave and I don't think that Snape is till on their side...i mean...who'd believe him after this. and he nearly killed Harry with the whole coward thing lol.

just one question, im not going get started on the "is he alive or dead" thing because thats another thread, but do you think its possible snape didnt kill dumbledor? long shot, but here goes, could snape have said the killing spell (my minds gone blank and i cant remeber what its called, how annoying! it began with A didnt it?) but thought another spell to make it appear he was dead? dont know if that would work, then burried him in that white coffin so he appeared dead to voldy, but in actual fact he was 'regenerating'? and snape knew dd had harry in the room somehow?

ok, it might be total rubbish, but hey, keeps the imagination active! and its nice to look for the good in people, except voldy, if he turns good somehow in the last book i think im go book burning!

Ava Kavandra! thats the one, thanks :-D

razzberry I go with your interpretation. Snape loathed what he had to do, he didn't loathed DD, besides if he did he would have said something cruel in his snapish way to DD before killing him ( thats what I think) but he killed him without a word.
I also think that DD gave his orders to kill because he knew he was about to die because of reasons like his age or his health - I just can't get over his burned hand.

What do you think?

vicky: I thought about this theory too, but I don't see a way how an adava kedavra can be faked. but...snape wrote some great stuff in his potions book, so he's a great wizard. I don't know, it would be great if this theory would actually be right.

Siriusjr, I absolutely agree with you that Dd did ot want to die, but he was faced with a situation where he had no choice. Why?

He was desperately trying to get to Snape before the DE's got to him, it would have been the only way he could have survived, but that didn't happen.

We know what a good man Dd is, and if, once faced with all of them around him, he had not frozen Harry, and not begged Snape to go through with it, then Draco and his family would surely have been murdered by Voldy as he said he would, Snape would have died because of the Unbreakable curse, and Harry would have copped it too, it was Snape who restrained the DE's from harming Harry in the end, otherwise they would probably have killed him in the fight.

Also Dd is aware that he was going to die before Voldy is destroyed. He knew it the moment he heard the prophecy. He is the most powerful and accomplished wizard of the time, more powerful than Voldy, so it makes sense that if he was still around, he would have been the one to vanquish The Dark Lord.

Howz that?

everone i have PROOF that Snape is really evil:

This is an interview by Mugglenet's Emerson and The Leaky Cauldron's Mellisa:

MA: OK, big big big book six question. Is Snape evil?

JKR: [Almost laughing] Well, you've read the book, what do you think?

so do you think he is evil now? yes he is!!!

MOD EDIT: No double-post. Please read the rules again. I've deleted the second post but this is what it said...

Posted on Jul 19 2005, 10:32 PM
also, this one:

ES: I know Dumbledore likes to see the good in people but he seems trusting almost to the point of recklessness sometimes.

[Laughter] Yes, I would agree. I would agree.

ES: How can someone so -

JKR: Intelligent -

ES: be so blind with regard to certain things?

JKR: Well, there is information on that to come, in seven. But I would say that I think it has been demonstrated, particularly in books five and six that immense brainpower does not protect you from emotional mistakes and I think Dumbledore really exemplifies that. In fact, I would tend to think that being very, very intelligent might create some problems and it has done for Dumbledore, because his wisdom has isolated him, and I think you can see that in the books, because where is his equal, where is his confidante, where is his partner? He has none of those things. He’s always the one who gives, he’s always the one who has the insight and has the knowledge. So I think that, while I ask the reader to accept that McGonagall is a very worthy second in command, she is not an equal. You have a slightly circuitous answer, but I can't get much closer than that.

shows that Snape is evil again!

how can one be evil how makes because of pleas made by a mother an unbreakable vow to save a sixteen year old boy who is only a student? Is that really evil? I don't think that snape is evil he's way too emotionla for that.

Wasn't it convenient that Snape was almost insisting that Harry did his hexs and strikes in silent. How he taughted him into being better than he was. Teased him and showed him that he was useless compared to a proper wizard.

The anger building up inside Harry, the buzz, the infuriation, the torment of loosing everything dear. Harry will strike back with vengence!

Snape was not betraying anyone, instead he waas causing the inevitable confrontation between Harry and Voldemort. Snape would never have protected Harry until now for the sheer fun of it.

I could see it in his eyes; the enjoyment when he found Harry using one of his best self made spells. He was tingling inside.

The moment I read that Snape had killed Dumbledore I didn't really believe Snape was a true death-eater (shocked though I may have been).

Snape had made the unbreakable vow (though notice, that the third vow, that he would kill Dumbledore if Draco couldn't, was the only one he hesitated on...but wanting to show his allegiance to Voldemort he agreed).

So, then when he gets to the Astronomy Tower, Snape is told that Draco cannot seem to do it...i.e. he Snape is fulfilling the terms of the vow by killing Dumbledore. If he hadn't killed Dumbledore, then the Vow would dictate that Snape would have to die. So it was really a choice of killing Dumbledore and gaining all the DE's trust, or dying himself and losing the valuable position as spy.