Snape Telling the Prophecy (Re: CHAP DISC, HBP 25, The Seer Overheard)

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 161774

> 
> Jen:  The best case scenario for Snape's judgement is what Sirius
said > about Regulus, "he got in so far, then panicked about what he
was being asked to do and tried to back out." (chap. 6, OOTP) Or like 
> the Blacks, Snape didn't realize what Voldemort was prepared to do 
> to seize power, i.e. target babies. 
> 
> But if Dumbledore's explanation is correct, it's not looking so good 
> for Snape.  Notice he doesn't say Snape had no idea Voldemort would 
> actually target a baby, he says Snape had no idea *which* baby would 
> be the target---Dumbledore, what are you thinking?!?

Finwitch:

Indeed. Not good for Snape, is it - I mean, he *knew* Voldemort would
target a *baby* and yet he chose to tell him of the prophecy. Yes, I
agree - Harry had every right to blow up. And his reason to turn is on
*which* baby Voldemort attacked, a baby Snape apparently doesn't even
LIKE, of a father Snape HATES?

As for Dumbledore trusting Severus Snape -- I'd say he simply *chose*
to do so - in the hope the regret was real and because distrust was
Voldemort's weapon. (Biblical - one turned is valued more than 99 who
don't have to turn).

No wonder Dumbledore never told anyone (except Harry, of late) why he
trusted Snape. Hearing that story secondhand just wouldn't be
believable to anyone else. I suppose the experience firsthand was
indeed different. I also think that Dumbledore made a mistake in
trying to explain it to Harry in words instead of showing him (in a
pensieve), with commentary why he then chose to believe and trust
Severus Snape. Well, unless the pensieve would show something he
*absolutely* had to keep in secret for the sake of privacy and trust?
Well, I hope Aberforth has that memory bottled somewhere...

Finwitch