The two versions of the Prophecy

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 143174

Carol:
> I'd be interested in hearing how various people reconcile the two
> versions, regardless of what flavor Snape they prefer. (Grape!Snape,
> anyone? ;-) )

Ceridwen:
I thought about it, and came up with several different ideas.  I 
think the one that most closely fits both Dumbledore's and 
Trelawney's recollections of events would be that Snape was outside 
the door when Trelawney began to give her prophecy, and was caught by 
Aberforth, and the ensuing argument made it impossible for Snape to 
hear the rest.  Dumbledore heard the commotion; Trelawney didn't 
because she was in a trance.  As soon as Dumbledore was certain she 
was finished, he Alohamora'd the door so there stood Aberforth and 
Snape just as Trelawney is regaining her bearings.  Aberforth tells 
Dumbledore he found Snape eavesdropping, then drags him away, as he 
would have anyway if the door hadn't been opened.

But that doesn't explain the Pop-Up!Trelawney in the Pensieve.  
Before HBP, I read some thoughts that Harry is using the Pensieve 
wrong, and that the Pop-Up! version is the correct way to do it.  But 
since HBP, we see that Dumbledore uses the Pensieve the same way, 
when he wants Harry to see everything going on.  The only time I can 
see where a Pop-Up! is the only course is when two or more thoughts 
are being blended to form an answer or a more in-depth analysis (the 
two snakes).

So, the conclusion I came to is that Dumbledore didn't want Harry to 
see anything but Trelawney giving the prophecy.  He didn't want Harry 
to see the room, the scene outside the windows (snow?  dead of 
night?), he didn't want him to see *anything else*.

I can get at least two reasons for that.  There are probably more.  
One: Dumbledore wants Harry to focus on the prophecy to the exclusion 
of all else, so he 'spotlights' it; Two: Dumbledore doesn't want 
Harry to see something in the room for whatever reason.

I'm tending toward number two.  But, if it was Snape in the room, or 
the door opening immediately afterwards to reveal him, if Snape's 
entry happened so quickly on the heels of the prophecy that 
Dumbledore didn't think he could get Harry out of the Pensieve in 
time to avoid that revelation, if someone else was present (now 
deceased, as Dumbledore said only the two people in the Weasleys' 
shed knew the whole prophecy), or something else entirely (bad choice 
of robes for DD? ;) ) I just don't know and won't try to figure out, 
at least not today.

Still, the fact that DD (IMO) didn't want Harry to see something in 
the room, or soon to enter the room, means that there's probably more 
going on than my simple solution given above.

Ceridwen.