Why was Snape spying on Trelawney's interview?

Why was Snape spying on Trelawney? We know he was working for Voldemort at the time, but what reason could Voldemort have for spying on Trelawney, it's not as if he knew she was going to make a prophecy. Or was it not Trelawney that was being spied on at all, but Dumbledore?

Thoughts?

I believe that Snapes job was to spy on Dumbledore. His overhearing the prophacy was a bonus.

Or was it not Trelawney that was being spied on at all, but Dumbledore? Snape tells Bellatrix and Narcissa that he had been told to spy on Albus. It's Sybill that makes it sound as if Snape was eavesdropping on her, but her interpretations of events haven't been very accurate. But then, plenty of people think Snape was telling plenty of lies in Spinner's End, so it's a somewhat subjective thing. :)

Yes, I think he saw Dumbledore in the bar and decided to follow him up the stairs to see if he could dig up any dirt for Voldemort.

The thing I want to know (even though it's trivial) why was Snape in the bar in the first place? He doesn't seem the type to stop in for a quick drink...

I definitely think that Snape was just there spying on Dumbledore. The prophesy hearing was a bonus that he could hand over to the Dark Lord.

I believe that Snapes job was to spy on Dumbledore. His overhearing the prophacy was a bonus.


Yah, that is a good idea. I have to agree with you. He was probably a little shocked when he heard it, but then got all excited and ran off to tell LV, and not hear the rest.

The thing I want to know (even though it's trivial) why was Snape in the bar in the first place? He doesn't seem the type to stop in for a quick drink...

I am guessing that he was spending a lot of time in Hogsmeade since that is where Hogwarts is. He probably saw Dumbledore go in and followed. He would have to be in the village to see Dumbledore come and go because he wouldn't have been able to walk around Hogwarts.

I believe that Snape was spying on Dumbledore. He stated as much to Narcissa and Bellatrix, so I'm thinking he was probably lurking around wherever Dumbledore was, thus being in the Hog's Head at the time of Trelawney and Dumbledore's meeting and then hearing the partial part of the prophecy.

I too agree with the idea that Snape was trailing Dumbledore on Voldemort's orders to spy on him and just happened to be at the right place at the right time to overhear Trelawney. I'm sure he must have thought that he wasn't going to learn anything of value that night given what Trelawney's like, but he must have been surprised to hear her make a true prediction.

What exactly are we talking about? Where and when exactly was Snape spying on Trelawney?

What exactly are we talking about? Where and when exactly was Snape spying on Trelawney?
We're talking about when Snape overheard the first half of the prophecy regarding Harry and Voldemort, the prophecy that Trelawney gave to Dumbledore when he was interviewing her for the Divination position in the Hog's Head.

I agree with everyone that most likely Snape was tailing Dumbledore on Voldemort's orders. There is no logical reason he would want to be spying on Trelawney, seeing as her prophecy makings are few and far between.

I think that during his rise to power, Voldemort was paranoid about possibilities of a fall from power. He would logically send Death Eaters to listen to one who is skilled at Divination. Remember that Trelawney's great-great grandmother was the famed seeer Cassandra Trelawney. Since the previous teacher died, Voldemort would probably look with interest into the possible teachers of the subject. Since Cassandra was famous, Voldemort could easily make the connection for himself.

We're talking about when Snape overheard the first half of the prophecy regarding Harry and Voldemort, the prophecy that Trelawney gave to Dumbledore when he was interviewing her for the Divination position in the Hog's Head.

I agree with everyone that most likely Snape was tailing Dumbledore on Voldemort's orders. There is no logical reason he would want to be spying on Trelawney, seeing as her prophecy makings are few and far between.
I don't recall the identity of that person being revealed. Of course I don't recall every detail of the last two books. When was it said that it was him?

I don't recall the identity of that person being revealed. Of course I don't recall every detail of the last two books. When was it said that it was him?
It was said that it was him in HBP page 544-545. Trelawney is talking about her first interview with Dumbledore in the Hog's Head. She said (paraphrased) " I well remember my first interview with Dumbledore... He was deeply impressed. I was staying at the Hog's Head...He did the courtesy of calling upon me in my room. He questioned me... I was starting to feel a little odd, but then, we were rudely interrupted by Severus Snape!"

This was when she made the prophecy, although she has no recollection of it, she only knows that Snape interrupted their meeting.

Trelawney told Harry it was Snape the night she got thrown out of the room of requirement. What I would like to know is how did she know that DD's brother was throwing out Snape when she was in a trance at the time. If the trance was interupted I don't think she would go back into it.

I think that during his rise to power, Voldemort was paranoid about possibilities of a fall from power. He would logically send Death Eaters to listen to one who is skilled at Divination. Remember that Trelawney's great-great grandmother was the famed seeer Cassandra Trelawney. Since the previous teacher died, Voldemort would probably look with interest into the possible teachers of the subject. Since Cassandra was famous, Voldemort could easily make the connection for himself.

I don't think Snape of Voldemort knew much or cared much about Trelawney. She was not a big name despite her ancient line of prophetesses. She probably had a poor reputation if any even knew anything about her at all. I say this because Voldemort does not know Trelawny made the prophesy. I believe this is stated somewhere but I don't have a reference. One of the reasons Dumbledore keeps her at the school is so she does not go out and risk being found by Voldemort or DE's who may seek to learn from her mind the information the prophesy held. I think if Voldemort knew who exactly made the prohesy he would have found a way to get at Trelawny even though she is in Hogwarts. So that night, Snape must have been tailing Dumbledore and happened to be in the right place at the right time.

What exactly are we talking about? Where and when exactly was Snape spying on Trelawney?Not that he was spying on Trelawney so much as he was listening in on the interview that Dumbledore was conducting which resulted in her getting the job at Hogwarts.

I don't recall the identity of that person being revealed. Of course I don't recall every detail of the last two books. When was it said that it was him?If we believe the sequence of events as Trelawney explained them to Harry in HBP it does sound like towards the end of her interview she went into a trance, gave the prophecy and sometime after that Aberforth found Snape listening at the keyhole of the door. I think you're right that it hasn't been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was Snape but it seems highly likely. Then again, we could be in for a huge plot twist-- it's not as though JKR hasn't done it before.

Trelawney told Harry it was Snape the night she got thrown out of the room of requirement. What I would like to know is how did she know that DD's brother was throwing out Snape when she was in a trance at the time. If the trance was interupted I don't think she would go back into it.

Hmm, very interesting point. I don't think I've ever thought of that. Yes, if Snape "interrupted" their meeting by eavesdropping, then he would have been seen and apprehended halfway through the prophecy, only hearing the beginning half. But here is an idea, possibly Snape was apprehended after hearing only the first half but the barman struggled with him and he wasn't able to hear the rest of it. And possibly it wasn't until the prophecy was over and Trelawney came back into what was happening that the door flew open as Trelawney said ("Yes, there was a commotion outside the door and it flew open, and there was the rather uncouth barman standing with Snape." -HBP 545). I think this is most likely the case, that after the prophecy had been made completely and the door flew open, Snape was only able to hear the first half properly because the barman was standing outside the door questioning him about what he was doing there.

I think he was spying on DD but my real question of that scene is that how does trelawney know that snape was there? I know it is a bit off topic in a way but that is bothering me. If trelawney is in a trance then how does she know it happend!? She cant have known enless of course snape was listening the ENTIRE conversation and THEN kicked out. DD would be lieing then.

[...] It's Sybill that makes it sound as if Snape was eavesdropping on her, but her interpretations of events haven't been very accurate. But then, plenty of people think Snape was telling plenty of lies in Spinner's End, so it's a somewhat subjective thing. :)
Sybill does make it sound like that and her interpretation could have been accurate.

But Snape can't have heard all of the conversation because Voldemort only got the first half of the prophecy unless Snape didn't tell Voldemort everything. In which case, Dumbledore would still be lying because he said that it was only him and Harry who knew the whole prophecy. However this isn't true if Snape heard the whole thing also.

It was said that it was him in HBP page 544-545. Trelawney is talking about her first interview with Dumbledore in the Hog's Head. She said (paraphrased) " I well remember my first interview with Dumbledore... He was deeply impressed. I was staying at the Hog's Head...He did the courtesy of calling upon me in my room. He questioned me... I was starting to feel a little odd, but then, we were rudely interrupted by Severus Snape!"

This was when she made the prophecy, although she has no recollection of it, she only knows that Snape interrupted their meeting.

Did Snape hear the end of the prophacey, which is also the beginning, or the real first part of it.

Did Snape hear the end of the prophacey, which is also the beginning, or the real first part of it.

Good point. The prophecy starts " The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord approaches...born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies" it then says " the dark lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the dark lord knows not"

From the way things happened in the books, I was always under the impression that Snape only heard the first part from "the one with the power " to "as the seventh month dies". If he had only heard the end, which repeats the beginning "The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord will be born as the seventh month dies", how would Voldemort possibly know where to look for this boy who was to be born at the end of the July. He had to have heard the part that said "born to those who have thrice defied him" or else how would Voldemort have known it was either the Potter boy or the Longbottom boy?

This is why I think that he heard the beginning, was approached by the barman, and was not able to hear the rest of the prophecy.

I think that with Voldemort wanting a position at Hogwarts (athough clearly not in Divination) and him wanting to know everything Dumbledore was up to, it would make sense for him to send Snape to listen to the interview.

Maybe Voldemort wanted Snape to pick up some interview techniques :p

I think that with Voldemort wanting a position at Hogwarts (athough clearly not in Divination) and him wanting to know everything Dumbledore was up to, it would make sense for him to send Snape to listen to the interview.

Maybe Voldemort wanted Snape to pick up some interview techniques :p


I though Voldemort just wanted a spy in Hogwarts, it wouldn't matter which subject, and I don't see how spying on interviews could help him

Good point. The prophecy starts " The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord approaches...born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies" it then says " the dark lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the dark lord knows not"

From the way things happened in the books, I was always under the impression that Snape only heard the first part from "the one with the power " to "as the seventh month dies". If he had only heard the end, which repeats the beginning "The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord will be born as the seventh month dies", how would Voldemort possibly know where to look for this boy who was to be born at the end of the July. He had to have heard the part that said "born to those who have thrice defied him" or else how would Voldemort have known it was either the Potter boy or the Longbottom boy?

This is why I think that he heard the beginning, was approached by the barman, and was not able to hear the rest of the prophecy.


Your right I never noticed the thrice defied line was not at the end.

Maybe he wasn't spying on Trelewney, he could have been spying Dumbledore like Voldemort told him to do

Yeah I think it was Dumbledore he was spying on, not Trelawney. My guess is that Voldemort told him to so they could get valuable information.

I agree, I believe Snape was spying on Dumbledore.

As to the prophecy, let's remember that Snape would have had no reason to interrupt the prophecy while it was being uttered. I think - and this is a guess, no more - that he heard the first bit, but was then caught by the barman (Aberforth?), who prevented him from hearing the rest. Trelawney came out of her trance and saw/heard Snape and the barman arguing, and both rightly and wrongly concluded he had been trying to spy on her.

I think he wasn't so much spying on the interview as spying on Dumbledore, and, for all Snape knew, Trelawney's interview might have been a premise to pass information to Dumbledore. To be sure, Snape did some spying -- got caught -- and it's as simple as that.

...Yes, if Snape "interrupted" their meeting by eavesdropping, then he would have been seen and apprehended halfway through the prophecy, only hearing the beginning half. But here is an idea, possibly Snape was apprehended after hearing only the first half but the barman struggled with him and he wasn't able to hear the rest of it. And possibly it wasn't until the prophecy was over and Trelawney came back into what was happening that the door flew open as Trelawney said ("Yes, there was a commotion outside the door and it flew open, and there was the rather uncouth barman standing with Snape." -HBP 545)....Snape was only able to hear the first half properly because the barman was standing outside the door questioning him about what he was doing there.

Makes sense. With Sybill in an altered state of consciousness, she noticed and remembered nothing -- not the prophecy, not the commotion at the door -- only that her job interview was interrupted.

Perhaps Snape was appionted to spy on Dumbledore by Voldemort, and that's why he applied for a job there - as he said, on Voldemort's orders.

I think he was spying on DD but my real question of that scene is that how does trelawney know that snape was there? I know it is a bit off topic in a way but that is bothering me. If trelawney is in a trance then how does she know it happend!? She cant have known enless of course snape was listening the ENTIRE conversation and THEN kicked out. DD would be lieing then.


Sybill does make it sound like that and her interpretation could have been accurate.
Surely once she came out of her trance she would have noticed the commotion in the hallway? The trance doesn't seem like it lasted that long, and Snape only missed the last bit. I just assumed that Snape was interrupted when he got caught so he missed the ending, but Trelawny came out her trance as he was being chucked out.

True, the prophecy is not inordinately long, and it strikes me that even in an upper room there would be bar noise to make it hard for an eavesdropper to hear the rest, especially with an angry barkeeper yelling at him.

I believe that he was there to spy on Dumbledore and not Trelewney. Hearing the prophecy was a bonus. He may have been there to apply for a job at the same time and was to have an interview later.

Snape told Bellatrix in Spinners End that Voldemort had ordered Snape to spy on Dumbledore. He said he was at Hogwarts, where the Dark Lord has ordered him to be. Snape may have come to the Hogs Head to talk to Dumbledore about a teaching position when he overheard the first part of the prophecy.

I hope that DH answers this question.

This is a good question, Was Snape spying for himself to gain knowledge to ingrate himself to Voldermort or was he already in service to Voldermort? Was he just thinking of joining or was he already a Death Eater? If he was sent to spy on Dumbledore, then it is obvious why he was there. If he was just looking for a job to get close to Dumbledore for Voldermort, the he was just looking to get an idea of what Dumbledore wanted to hire, what an interview would be like. He didn't expect to find the type of information that he did.

Was Snape spying for himself to gain knowledge to ingrate himself to Voldermort or was he already in service to Voldermort? Was he just thinking of joining or was he already a Death Eater? If he was sent to spy on Dumbledore, then it is obvious why he was there. If he was just looking for a job to get close to Dumbledore for Voldermort, the he was just looking to get an idea of what Dumbledore wanted to hire, what an interview would be like. He didn't expect to find the type of information that he did.

Wow, I think we've all been assuming that he must have been spying for Voldemort at the time.

Let's see, in book 5, when Harry was 15, Trelawney told Umbridge that she had worked at Hogwarts for "nearly sixteen" years. Umbridge's inspections came well into the first term, but before Christmas, which suggests that Trelawney may have started working there mid-year, say January, and Harry would have been born the following July.

Snape told Umbridge that he had worked at Hogwarts for fourteen years. That means he started teaching more than a year after Trelawney, when Harry was 1 year old, in fact, the very same school term that the Potter murders took place.

Based on that difference, I would guess that Snape was after more than interview tips, although he may not have known what to expect. He may not even have had instuctions to get hired at Hogwarts until after Voldie heard the half prophecy -- gosh, he might have even been ordered there in part to pump Trelawney further. I can't think of any other reason why he would be snooping, except on behalf of Voldie.

Since he passed the information to Voldemort (all that he heard), it would seem clear that he was there on Voldemort's orders, probably because of Sybill Trelawney's ancestry--wouldn't that be deliciously ironic, eh?;) I must be going loopy. I thought that Dumbledore interviewed Trelawney "one night in June?" Anyone have OotP handy where they can flip to Dumbledore's explanation of the Prophecy? I thought he got the information barely a month before Harry and Neville were born.

It seems fairly obvious (to me, anyway) that Snape was spying on Dumbledore, not Trelawney. Trelawney was, ironically, incidental to Snape's original intention.

I must be going loopy. I thought that Dumbledore interviewed Trelawney "one night in June?" Anyone have OotP handy where they can flip to Dumbledore's explanation of the Prophecy?

OOTP, American hard cover, page 840:

"On a cold, wet night sixteen years ago, in a room above the bar at the Hog's Head Inn."

This conversation with Harry was in June, so if Dumbledore was speaking precisely, he could have meant, I guess, an unseasonably cold June, one month before Harry's birth. But if he was speaking approximately, which seems likely, he probably meant the previous winter. That interpretation also would fit with Sybil's "almost sixteen years," which she says before Christmas. Sybil later says, "I've been here for sixteen years" on page 595 when Umbridge is firing her, which I think comes about the middle of the second term, say about March.

So I'm betting she joined Hogwarts mid-year, the winter before Harry's birth.

Let's see, in book 5, when Harry was 15, Trelawney told Umbridge that she had worked at Hogwarts for "nearly sixteen" years. Umbridge's inspections came well into the first term, but before Christmas, which suggests that Trelawney may have started working there mid-year, say January, and Harry would have been born the following July.

Snape told Umbridge that he had worked at Hogwarts for fourteen years. That means he started teaching more than a year after Trelawney, when Harry was 1 year old, in fact, the very same school term that the Potter murders took place. The 'nearly sixteen years' would have been stated in early September. Sixteen years would be late fall, early winter, I suppose. Harry had just turned fifteen the end of July. If Trelawney started teaching directly after the prophecy, then Lily may not have even known she was pregnant when Trelawney gave the prophecy. Snape was already teaching before the Potters were killed.

I, like most everyone else, believe Snape was spying on Trelawney's interview, because the interview was with Dumbledore. Trelawney being there (and giving the prophecy) was a bonus for Snape.

I doubt he would be spying on Trelawney, unless he had a thing for her and was stalking her! :lol: Anyway, Snape was most likely following Dumbledore, and just happened to overhear the prophecy. Or, he could have been doing what Trelawney said he was is HBP: eavesdropping on the interview to learn tips on how to get a job at Hogwarts! :P

The 'nearly sixteen years' would have been stated in early September. Sixteen years would be late fall, early winter, I suppose. Harry had just turned fifteen the end of July. If Trelawney started teaching directly after the prophecy, then Lily may not have even known she was pregnant when Trelawney gave the prophecy. Snape was already teaching before the Potters were killed.

I, like most everyone else, believe Snape was spying on Trelawney's interview, because the interview was with Dumbledore. Trelawney being there (and giving the prophecy) was a bonus for Snape.

We can presume that she started teaching almost directly after making the prophecy because that was the reason she was employed. Dumbledore talks of not wanting to hirre a divination tacher but going to see Trelawney because he was interested ue to her ancestory. He hired her because heknew about the importance of the prohecy, and because he knew, through Snape, that Voldemort would know at least part of the connent, and therefore may come after Trelawney, and of course Hogwarts is one of the safest places.

Hi. I believe Snape was spying on Dumbledore, because Voldemort needed to know all of his made steps, so he possibly doesn't attack him without Voldemort being ready.

In HPHBP Trelawney said that Snape had wanted to take place of divination teacher so he had been spying on her interview. That's probably, if Snape really had worked for Voldemort, his aim was taking any place in Hogwarts.

But what could Snape reach by spying on Trelawney's interview? I have doubt that with help of it he could reach a teacher place. He rather was spying on Dumbledore. This interview took a place in 'The Hog's head', when Aberforth Dumbledore was working and he was a member of the Order. Albus could pass him inportant information and Snape had to learn about it.

And he was lucky, like maebelle said.

It's also, thinkably, possible that Voldemort had become interested in Sybil Trelawney as a seer. It's even possible that she had at some point, made a previous prophecy of which Voldemort had heard. Sybil herself, if so, wouldn't even have known it....since she seems to have amnesia after these incidents.

Personally, I do not believe it was Snape who was the eavesdropper. I believe it was Mundungus and Dumbledore altered Trelawney's memory to make Snape the eavesdropper. When Harry confronted DD with Trelawney's memory, DD lied to Harry in order to cover that he altered Trelawney's memory. Here is the thread if anyone would like to see it


Was Trelawney's recollection of the Prophecy night an implanted memory?

http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=88817

Snape was spying on Dumbledore!

Snape was spying on Dumbledore!

This obvious answer raises questions, though. Dumbledore spends most of his time at Hogwarts. But Snape didn't start working at Hogwarts for another year, around the time he defected to Dumbledore. So how would he spy on Dumbledore as a regular thing? Would he be hanging around Hogsmeade 24-7 just hoping to have a chance to eavesdrop? Hardly. But then, how would he know that Dumbledore, on impulse, would drop in to the Hog's Head on that cold, wet night? If he was spying on Dumbledore, it almost has to be a matter of chance that he had an opportunity to do so, rather than a regular assignment. You have to wonder what was Snape's regular assignment.

Could have been Sybill, or something else entirely. And what was his cover job?

I don't think Dumbledore was adverse to the odd pint, really.

;)

I don't think Dumbledore was adverse to the odd pint, really.

Granted, but still, how much sense would it make to hang around Hogsmeade every day just for the occasional chance to watch Dumbledore for a short while? And woudn't it become a bit obvious?

Maybe he was spying on the Hogwarts staff in general? We know Hagrid frequents the Hogshead for one, and is not exactly great at keeping secrets.

Although if it's this you'd think it would make more sense to hang around the three broomsticks.

I do though think it might make sense for Snape to hang around Hogsmede just to spy on Dubledore, after all in HBP DD tells Rosemerta that he's going to the Hogshead that night, which kind of suggests his out most nights, although we don't know how long he's been using this as a cover for or if he used it as a cover during the first war

isnt obvious. he was a spy for voldemort and thats why he was spying. duh!

There's 2 possibilities.

One could be that Snape was spying on Dumbledore as part of Voldemort's orders.

The other could be Sybill's history.

The second one is less likely but Voldemort might've known about Sybill's family and their ability to see the future and was just waiting for her to make a possible prophecy that could involve him or something like that.

It's less likely but there's no doubt that Snape must have been spying on Dumbledore.

I agree with some of the other posters, Snape was trying to listen in on Dumbledore, not on Trelawney.

Perhaps it was Dumbledore he was spying on.

Snape was there to get a job at Hogwarts too. He was just spying on Trelawney interview because he was there to spy on Dumbledore. He just got lucky and ran and told Voldemort after he was picked off.

isnt obvious. he was a spy for voldemort and thats why he was spying. duh!

I mean why was he spying on Trelawney, why would Voldemort want him to spy on her. Not was he spying in general.

Also to say that he was spying because he was a spy is a bit of a circular argument. Really if we are going to talk about why Snape was a spy in general we should talk about why Voldemort chosse him as a spy.


And you don't have to be rude

I guess Voldemort heard about the meeting, and not wanting to show up there in public, sent Snape as a spy for him, but Snape never got the whole story.ha ha.

i think that Voldemort had him spy on the interview in case there was a prophecy about him he would know about it.

i think that Voldemort had him spy on the interview in case there was a prophecy about him he would know about it.'

Well, prophesies aren't very common and neither are Seers. I doubt he knew a prophesy would be made, and even if he did it wouldn't necessarily concern him. I think he was just spying on Dumbledore, which he probably did as often as he could whenever Dumbledore was not at Hogwarts. And since he wanted to spy on Dumbledore so badly, he had Snape go to work at Hogwarts.

Snape was there to get a job at Hogwarts too. He was just spying on Trelawney interview because he was there to spy on Dumbledore. He just got lucky and ran and told Voldemort after he was picked off. :agree: What Trelawney says ( Snape was spying to get tips on interview technique) implies that Snape was there to apply for a job too. Undoubtedly that would be on Voldemort's orders - he didn't get the job but managed to give Voldemort something much more valuable and thus avoid his wrath. When Snape went to Dumbledore with his tale of remorse Voldemort was no doubt pleased that Snape had managed to achieve what he was sent there ot do in the first place.

I have a thought.


In GOF, Dumbledore says that Snape turned spy for the Order of the Phoenix before the fall of Voldemort. But in HBP, he tells Harry that after James was killed, he felt guilty about telling the prophecy to Voldemort and then turned sides.

That doesn't add up. If Dumbldore is deliberately lying to Harry about what happened at the Hog's Head, and Trelawney can't be trusted to relay accurate information, then what do we really know about what happened?

I believe that Snape was spying on Dumbledore. He stated as much to Narcissa and Bellatrix, so I'm thinking he was probably lurking around wherever Dumbledore was, thus being in the Hog's Head at the time of Trelawney and Dumbledore's meeting and then hearing the partial part of the prophecy.

Dingdingding! We have a winner! :lol:

I have a thought.


In GOF, Dumbledore says that Snape turned spy for the Order of the Phoenix before the fall of Voldemort. But in HBP, he tells Harry that after James was killed, he felt guilty about telling the prophecy to Voldemort and then turned sides.

That doesn't add up. If Dumbldore is deliberately lying to Harry about what happened at the Hog's Head, and Trelawney can't be trusted to relay accurate information, then what do we really know about what happened?

This is a good point! I think there was a post a while back about Trelawny's memory of Snape being there an altered memory? That would seem a likely explaination.

Although, there were some arguments about when the prophesy was given. Could it be that the prophesy was given a year before Harry was born? If so, Harry was a year old when he was attacked, wasn't he? That give Snape time to defect and both statements be true. I would sure like a timeline :)

Another thought- if Voldemort knew that Trelawney gave the prophecy, why didn't he have her more closely watched? Is it common knowlege that a seer doesn't remember a true prophesy- otherwise, why didn't he try to kidnap Trewlaney when he was trying to get it? I don't know if this is the right thread to ask this question, it just came to me as I was thinking about the night the prophesy was given.

Well that is actually why Dumbledore employed Trelawney isn't it, so she could be protected at Hogwarts after making the prophecy?

Another thought- if Voldemort knew that Trelawney gave the prophecy, why didn't he have her more closely watched? Is it common knowlege that a seer doesn't remember a true prophesy- otherwise, why didn't he try to kidnap Trewlaney when he was trying to get it? I don't know if this is the right thread to ask this question, it just came to me as I was thinking about the night the prophesy was given.

He didn't try to kidnap her because at first she was protected by Dumbledore when he gave her the teaching job at Hogwarts. Then he didn't really need to know the whole prophesy because he assumed that by killing Harry he was fulfilling it. Then he was Vapormort and couldn't do anything to get to Trelawney, but realized he needed some way to learn the whole prophesy. His first concern is getting his body back and when he finally does, his first goal is to hear the prophesy. The easiest way would be getting the record of it because Trelawney is still protected by Dumbledore. However, when this mission ultimately fails, I do not think Voldemort gave up. He had two options: get the prophesy from Dumbledore (IMPOSSIBLE) or get it from Trelawney who would have to be taken from Hogwarts after Dumbledore was no longer there to protect her. Therefore, he not only has his DE's break into Hogwarts and kill Dumbledore, but he now has access to anything he wants from Hogwarts. It is very likely that there were more DE's there (or at least one) who didn't join in the fighting, but went and kidnapped Trelawney (who was not seen at the funeral).

Please discuss Trelawney's absence from the funeral in Why wasn't Trelawney at Dumbledore's funeral? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=104968) and keep this topic some 17-18 years prior to Albus's funeral, thanks.