timing of DEs' arrival at DoM (was: Snape and Occlumency)

[Juli]

No: HPFGUIDX 121593


Inkling:
>>Just before the battle at the Ministry at the end of
the book, it would seem that Snape was the only one is
a position to inform both sides of the fact that the
kids had in fact left for the ministry, and when they
left (I'm sure, as a Death Eater he can see Thestrals
-- he may well have seen them take off, and could
calculate when they'd arrive).  

Dungrollin:
Yes, he can see Thestrals, JKR has confirmed that, but
he'd have had to have been looking out of a window in
the right direction at exactly the right time to see
them take off.  And doesn't he inhabit the dungeons? 
Are there any windows? 

Juli replies:
I'm sure Snape is a busy man, he can't wait around all
day looking out the windows, his office doesn't even
have any, he could have waited for Harry to return but
the easiest way to do so is to stay by the main
entrance, and they were deep into the forest when they
took the threstals so they weren't visible. I believe
Snape is only loyal to DD and the Order.

Dungrollin:
>>Chapter thirty-five: Beyond the Veil "Black shapes
were emerging out of thin air all around them, 
blocking their way left and right; eyes glinted
through slits in hoods, a dozen lit wandtips were
pointing directly at their hearts; Ginny gave a gasp
of horror."

>>An interesting question is what was happening there.
There's no cracking noise remeniscent of apparation,
but similarly you'd expect both Harry and the narrator
to recognise invisibility cloaks, so it's unlikely
that the DEs were hidden under them waiting.  However,
back in PS (The Mirror of Erised), DD says "I don't
need a cloak to become invisible."  I'd guess that
were hidden and waiting using the same method.

Juli:
But do you really think that any DE has the powers DD
or LV have? I don't think so, my bet is that Kreacher
went over to the Malfoys after Harry tried to talk to
Sirius so the DE had a little idea of when to go to
the DoM, they had to be there long before the kids
because they took care of everyone working there,
including Eric the security guy. They could have been
anywhere in the DoM, just close enough to see Harry
get the prophesy and there interfere.

Juli