Why was Snape spying on Trelawney's interview?

[Lucybird]

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?

[SnapeAndSirius]

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

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by Lucybird

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.

[SKasparRollins]

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...

[marebear02]

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.

[trollsclub]

Originally Posted by SnapeAndSirius

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.

[RinkyDink]

Originally Posted by SKasparRollins

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.

[stunnedtina]

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.

[RemusLupinFan]

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.

[Pumpkin Juice]

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

[TheMrsBlack]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin Juice

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.

[Fanaticforever]

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.

[Pumpkin Juice]

Originally Posted by TheMrsBlack

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?

[TheMrsBlack]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin Juice

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.

[Fostwolf]

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.

[SeverusLovesUs]

Originally Posted by Fanaticforever

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.

[Madeline]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin Juice

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.

[TheMrsBlack]

Originally Posted by Fostwolf

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.

[crookshanks15]

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.

Originally Posted by Nicole

[...] 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.

[liveLifeCrazey]

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.