Further thoughts on who knows what about the prophecy, particularly re: Snape

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 125056


 SSSusan wrote:
> So what would be the ADVANTAGES or DISADVANTAGES of telling Snape 
> and/or others about the prophecy?
p

Potioncat:
Very nice post, BTW.

When I first read the prophecy I thought, "We already know that." 
Then I realized the readers can guess Harry will be the one to defeat 
LV because he's in the title. But the members of the WW don't know 
that. They just know he somehow survived LV's attempt to kill him.
 
But what about this? DD doesn't tell anyone because people have a 
tendency to either sit back and let the prophecy come true, or people 
try to interfere with it. So telling people like Molly or McGonagall 
might affect how they treat Harry or how they react to the threat of 
LV's return. DD may not want Harry venerated, but he doesn't want 
good people to do nothing while they wait for a promised outcome.

What if Snape knows part of the prophecy and thinks these are the two 
best chances of defeating LV...they should be doing better. That is, 
instead of thinking he needs to prepare them, he's frustrated that 
they don't already have the skills that he thinks they should have. 
After all, they're supposed to be special.

I can't put my finger on it, but Snape has a reason, within his own 
mind, to treat these two boys the way he does. And I don't think it's 
an old grudge or old life debt. His behavior seems one of irritation 
or frustration.

Potioncat