Snape thoughts

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 136867

 
> houyhnhnm:
>snip
> This means that he would have been hired when Harry was around a 
year
> old, which is consistant with what we already know and take for
> granted, that Snape went to Dumbledore and offered to turn his coat 
a
> few months *before* the Potters were killed.

Potioncat:
While we know Snape re-joined DD before LV fell, we don't actually 
know how long before. It could have been months (minimum, I think) or 
a year, or more? Based on what we've learned in HBP Snape hadn't 
turned at the point of the Prophecy. (Unless DD was being tricky, 
here.)

> Houyhnhnm:
> This means that the prophecy must have been made at least a full 
year
> before Harry was born, which I had not realized before.  And it 
means
> that two years elapsed between the time Snape overheard the prophecy
> and the time he began teaching at Hogwarts.

Potioncat:
Trelawney also says that Snape was applying for a job and was 
listening in to get tips. So, could it possibly be that on LV's 
orders Snape begins applying for the perpetually vacant DADA job, but 
is rejected a couple of times. Then when the Potions position comes 
open because Slughorn is retiring, DD hires Snape. It could even be 
that DD is hiring him because he's turned back to DD's side.

If there is any truth in the story that Snape was bothered that his 
information had endangered the Potters, then moving Snape to Hogwarts 
that year was particularly well timed.