The two versions of the Prophecy

[Bonnie Harvey/ Alesia Gillefalyn]

No: HPFGUIDX 143175

Carol wrote:
>I'm wondering whether anyone else views Trelawney's version of 
>the Prophecy and Snape's role as eavesdropper as irreconcilable 
>with Dumbledore's version. The problem is exacerbated, or perhaps 
>caused, by Dumbledore's decision to show Trelawney giving the 
>Prophecy without showing the complete memory. All we have is 
>Memory!Trelawney standing up in the Pensieve and reciting the 
>*uninterrupted* Prophecy, punctuated with ellipses in exactly the 
>same way as her second prophecy in PoA (regarding the Dark Lord's 
>servant) is punctuated, but with no indication of an interruption, 
>and Dumbledore’s unsatisfactory explanation that the eavesdropper, 
>whom we find out later is the young Severus Snape, heard only the 
>first part of the Prophecy (the same part that he reported to 
>Voldemort) and then was ejected from the building (presumably by 
>Aberforth).

Alesia suggests:
I always took the version Trelawney gave Harry about how Snape 
overheard the Prophecy as her way of making herself look more 
important in Harry's eyes.  Her way of legitimizing herself to 
‘The Chosen One’ after being dismissed by the ‘Greatest Wizard 
of the Age’.  I don’t think Trelawney knows when she makes real 
predictions.  She has never shown any indication she is even 
aware she made a prophecy to Harry his third year about the return 
of Voldemort.  So she 'tells' Harry she knew about Snape but what 
she doesn't say is that she knew Snape was being discovered when 
it happened rather then after her prediction was complete.  

Consider this timeline:
DD meets Trelawney in the Hogs Head.  The interview begins.  
During the course of the interview Trelawney slips into the 
Prophecy.  Halfway through the Prophecy Aberforth discovers Snape 
outside the door.  He removes Snape (but I doubt he lets him go - 
remember we are still at War it is the Spring of 1979 or 1980).  
By the time Aberforth returns from securing Snape for further 
questioning, Trelawney has finished the Prophecy.  Aberforth 
tells DD what has happened and Trelawney is only then aware she 
has made a Prophecy and the fact it was overheard. 

Also consider at some point, maybe not at the time of the 
interview but at some point, DD told Trelawney she was not safe 
outside of Hogwarts.  (When Umbridge tried to get rid of her, 
Trelawney knew she couldn't leave.)

Carol wrote:
>Also, Trelawney tells Harry that Snape must have been 
>eavesdropping to pick up interview techniques and that he was 
>looking for a job at the time

Alesia suggests:
I also took Trelawney’s assumption that Snape was getting 
interview tips as JKR’s sense of humor coming to the forefront.  
She is further reinforcing our belief that Trelawney is a little 
off and out of touch with the world.  

Carol wrote:
>Trelawney's interview occurs nearly two years before this time, 
>on a cold, rainy night several months before Harry is born 
>(probably around April 1980 because DD refers to it as "sixteen 
>years ago" as of June 1995, but an earlier date of December 1979 
>or January 1980 would fit better with Trelawney's statement that 
>she's been teaching "nearly sixteen years") to fill what seems 
>to be an unanticipated vacancy. But not even Trelawney would 
>expect a young man to be listening for interview tips in the 
>middle of the school year, much less a year and a half to nearly 
>two years before he actually applied. 
 
Alesia suggests:
I think the Lexicon has this wrong about this one.  They have 
Trelawney giving the Prophecy in 1980.  I think Trelawney made 
the Prophecy in the Spring of 1979 and starts teaching the Fall 
of the 1979-1980 school year.  Which would mean Harry’s fifth 
year (1995 -1996 school year) is indeed her sixteenth year at 
Hogwarts.  Now, Snape gets caught listening to the Prophecy in 
the Spring of 1979, presumably Voldemort has sent him to apply 
for the yearly vacant DADA job.  DD obviously doesn’t give him 
the job but does turn him into a spy at this time or soon there 
after.  Heck, it may be the ‘true Slytherin’ (per Phineas 
Nigellus Black) that Snape is; he offered to be a spy to keep 
his bum out of Azkaban.  (This is the main reason I think the 
reason DD gave Harry for trusting Snape is incomplete because 
the timeline doesn’t seem to add up to me.)   

Two years later, DD hires Snape in the summer of 1981 as the 
potions master for the 1981-1982 school year (which is 14 yrs 
before Harry’s fifth year at Hogwarts).  This may have been done 
to help with Snape’s job as a double agent.  DD states in the DE 
trials that Snape was a spy PRIOR to the defeat of Voldemort. 

JKR has always said DD never lies.  We all know he omits some 
pieces of information.  We know from DD Snape did indeed tell 
Voldemort about the Prophecy but what if there is another part 
to what makes him turn?  What if there was an additional reason 
we are not yet aware of?  All DD says is that Snape was remorseful 
at how Voldemort interrupted the Prophecy.  As I think everyone 
agrees we are still missing information about why DD trusted 
Snape.  

Alesia