DD and Snape's Culpability

[Miles]

No: HPFGUIDX 148106

latha279 wrote:
> Yes, indeed, I came to that conclusion only because Trelawney knew
> Snape was there. She said he interrupted her interview. But there is
> no way she could have known of anything at that time. She goes into a
> trance and she loses consciousness of the outer world.

Miles:
And that means that Snape really interrupted her interview (as far as she
could know).
What I don't believe is, that he interrupted the prophecy. Canon is this:

"'... and I remember I was starting to feel a little odd, I had not eaten
much that day... but then...' (...)
'...but then we were rudely interrupted by Severus Snape. (...)
'Yes, there was a commotion outside the door and it flew open, and there was
that rather uncouth barman standing with Snape, who was waffling about
having come the wrong way up the stairs, although I'm afraid that I myself
rather thought he had been apprehended eavesdropping...'." (HBP 25)

First, I think we are to believe what Trelawny says, with the exception that
she doesn't know about the prophecy. Instead, she remembers feeling "odd".
So, what she says is, that the commotion and the interruption took place
*after* the entire prophecy. Some listies had the idea of an interrupted
prophecy, so that Trelawny again fell into trance after the interruption. I
don't see this compatible with canon, so I'd like to rule this version out.
That leaves two possibilities:

a) Snape only heard the first part of the prophecy. Then he was disturbed by
the barman, and because of this Snape could only hear the first part of the
prophecy.
This is absolutely possible, but I don't think it is probable. Trelawny
heard commotion outside the door after the entire prophecy, and only after
that both Snape and the barman entered the scene. Why should it last longer
than three or four seconds for the barman to see Snape, shout at him and
open the door? Only if the commotion lasted considerable longer, this would
have been long enough to prevent Snape from hearing the entire prophecy.

b) Snape heard the entire prophecy. *After* the prophecy he was disturbed by
the barman, so Trelawny could hear the commotion and notice that Snape was
eavesdropping her interview (that, what we know but she not, included the
prophecy).
I like this version much better. Because, if it is true, than this would be
the reason for Dumbledore to trust Snape - and a very good reason indeed. If
Dumbledore and Snape agreed, that it would be good if Voldemort knew about
the first, but not the second part of the prophecy (maybe in order to set a
snare for Voldemort or to lead him to carelessness?), and if Snape really
managed to mislead Voldemort for 14 years, always in danger because of it -
yes, this would be a start for DDM!Snape, and a reason for continuing trust.

There are two problems with b).
b1) We know by now that this would be a very bad mistake on Dumbledore's
part - with the result of James' and Lily's death. I don't think Dumbledore
foresaw this or something like that (no Puppetmaster!Dumbledore). But maybe
this is not a real problem, but a solution for another puzzle?

"'It's all my fault, all my fault,' he sobbed, 'please make it stop, I know
I did wrong, oh, please make it stop and I'll never, never again...'"
(Dumbledore in The Cave HBP 26)

b2) If "my" version is true, than Dumbledore lied at Harry:

"Snape (...) heard the first half of Professor Trelawney's prophecy. He
hastened to tell his master what he had heard" (HBP 25).

Now, I really don't think that Dumbledore usually lies at Harry, or likes to
do it. But if he did it this time - who wants to blame him? Harry is
supposed to face Voldemort sooner or later. Voldemort is able to break into
Harry's mind again. It would be most dangerous for Snape if Harry knew
exactly why Dumbledore trusts Snape, and knows that Snape has betrayed
Voldemort (and is still doing it).
So, this would be a white lie - and I think it is possible and no real
argument against this theory.

Miles