Timeline

[Piper]

We know From Fortense's thread on Dumbledore and the ring that Dumbledore only got the ring a few days before he collected Harry from the Dursley home.

I am wondering if Snape saved Dumbledore's life before or after he took the Unbreakable Vow.

I can't figure out how long Harry stayed with the Dursleys though, it says:

Chapter 3 Will and Wont
But Harry ahd not packed. It just seemed too good to be true that he was going to be rescued from the Dursleys after a mere fort-night of their company.

What does a fort-night mean? One night?
And it seems like later there is another reference made to the short amount of time that he was left with the Dursleys, but I can't remember where.

[Sirius Potter Fan]

A Fort-night is two weeks. There is no time frame mentioned in Spinners End as to when the vow occured, but chronologicaly in the book, it does come before Dumbledore gets Harry, and after the new Minister of Magic is instated. I honestly don't think it really matters that much when it happened. I think Snape was free to help Dumbledore without breaking his vow, as the vow was that he woud do the job if Draco couldn't/wouldn't. Since Draco had no part in what happened with the ring, Snape could help Dumbledore. I believe it safe to say the order of events is unimportant in this instance.

[Alz]

Yah SPF is right - a fortnight is two weeks :p

..and all Snape agreed to was to protect Draco and do the task her son was suppose to if needed ... both of which would have no effect on helping Dumbledore on his horcrux hunt/destruction :p