THEORY:Re: Snape and Neville

[chinaskisnotes]

No: HPFGUIDX 112053

> Jekatiska wrote:
> > "Sorry if this has been discussed before, but one thing that hs 
> > been bothering me is why does Snape bully Neville? 

AF:
> ALRIGHT....It is my belief that Snape was the DE in the Hog's Head 
> Inn the day that Trelawney made her prediction to DD.  Since the 
> prophecy wasn't heard in its entirety, Snape would only know that 
> it was about a wizard child born towards the end of July....

I have been lurking here for quite some time and I feel compelled to post...
>From the sporadic posts that I read, I've noticed a general consensus that 
Snape was the one who overheard the prophecy in the Hog's Head, but, since first reading of OOTP, I assumed it was Mundungus who was the eavesdropper, 
and I don't think I've ever seen him mentioned as a candidate. 

Sirius told the trio that Dung was banned twenty years before, that's why 
he was disguised when the trio was at the Hog's Head. This is probably not 
the first time in twenty years that Dung has disguised himself and lurked. 
DD says the eavesdropper was "detected and... thrown from the building" (Am. 
version OotP, 843)- I assumed he was thrown out because he wasn't supposed 
to be there, not because he was eavesdropping. 

We also know that DD helped Dung out of a tight spot and Dung is loyal to 
him. Dung's questionable activities could have tangled him up with LV and 
the DE's and he could have used the prophecy information to appease them, 
and DD, knowing him to be a prophecy witness could have intervened and protected him. We've seen other instances of DD intervening and protecting people and receiving loyality in return. DD does not say the eavesdropper 
was a DE, nor does he indicate that he expected people to spy on him that night. Just a thought... I shall now put on my own disguise and continue to eavesdrop....

chinaski