Why did Snape tell Voldemort when Harry Potter was really going to be moved?












26















It seems suspicious that Snape told Voldemort when Harry Potter would be moved from his home. At that point of time, he had Voldemort's complete trust, having killed Dumbledore, why did he need to perform an extra attempt to help Voldemort find Harry Potter?










share|improve this question





























    26















    It seems suspicious that Snape told Voldemort when Harry Potter would be moved from his home. At that point of time, he had Voldemort's complete trust, having killed Dumbledore, why did he need to perform an extra attempt to help Voldemort find Harry Potter?










    share|improve this question



























      26












      26








      26


      2






      It seems suspicious that Snape told Voldemort when Harry Potter would be moved from his home. At that point of time, he had Voldemort's complete trust, having killed Dumbledore, why did he need to perform an extra attempt to help Voldemort find Harry Potter?










      share|improve this question
















      It seems suspicious that Snape told Voldemort when Harry Potter would be moved from his home. At that point of time, he had Voldemort's complete trust, having killed Dumbledore, why did he need to perform an extra attempt to help Voldemort find Harry Potter?







      harry-potter character-motivation






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited May 18 '17 at 3:34









      Mat Cauthon

      17.7k486135




      17.7k486135










      asked Aug 2 '11 at 19:12









      PearsonArtPhotoPearsonArtPhoto

      36.7k33177274




      36.7k33177274






















          5 Answers
          5






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          40














          From the Deathly Hallows, page 688:




          "You will have to give Voldemort the correct date of Harry's departure from his aunt and uncle's," said Dumbledore. "Not to do so will raise suspicion, when Voldemort believes you so well informed."







          share|improve this answer
























          • So, I guess they were planning it prior, and didn't want to change their plans, or didn't know Snape knew... Wow...

            – PearsonArtPhoto
            Feb 10 '12 at 4:00






          • 2





            @PearsonArtPhoto: That is precisely why I cannot choose the wine in front of me. (Please excuse the mixing of stories.)

            – Codes with Hammer
            Jun 12 '14 at 16:49



















          38














          Snape does not have Voldemort's unconditional trust. In the books, many people (especially Bellatrix) are shown to resent him and distrust him, pointing to his apparent loyalty to Dumbledore.



          The information about Harry leaving from his house is leaked by Snape, but he makes sure that Voldemort does not know about the Polyjuice potion. It's just a part of walking the fine line between winning the enemy's trust and helping his own side.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 6





            In fact, I believe Snape's under close scrutiny during the meeting when he does reveal the timing of the move ... and even when he brings it up, his word is doubted.

            – Dave DuPlantis
            Aug 2 '11 at 20:11






          • 7





            It's not just Snape... Voldemort doesn't have complete trust in anyone, with the exception of himself.

            – TGnat
            Aug 2 '11 at 20:48






          • 2





            I'll have to dig it up, but I believe it's part of the memories Harry gets at the end.. Dumbledore's portrait talking about keeping V's trust with limited info, but confunding Dung into suggesting Polyjuice.

            – K-H-W
            Jan 19 '12 at 2:00



















          14














          If Snape hadn't told him, despite the fact that Snape MUST have known, Voldemort would have had to assume one of two things:



          a) Snape was no longer trusted by the Order - vital information was withheld from him. His usefulness as a spy is ended - if he's untrusted, the Order won't tell him anything important, and may use him for disinformation.



          OR



          b) Snape cannot be trusted to give Voldemort accurate information. His usefulness as a spy is ended, as Voldemort has no one else in the Order who can serve as independent verification for information Snape gives, and Snape is too good at Occlumancy for his mind to be read.



          In either case, Snape's usefulness to big V (and thus, to the Order as a double-agent) ends, likely with his death.



          On the other hand, look at the results: moving a vulnerable target during a prepared ambush, the Order suffers very minor losses. Yes, some important characters suffer, but overall the losses are much less than could be expected - the ambush was supposed to leave no survivors. The Order acted heroically and skillfully, and gave as good as they got...because Snape told them the ambush was coming. And, of course, lived to serve them more.



          Edit: As Katie's answer shows, this was planned before Dumbledore's death to ensure that Big V trusted Snape - doing so allowed him to continue working against him from within the Death Eaters despite having been cast out of the Order.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 10





            :At that point, Snape was not part of the order. Also, he did not tell them about the ambush, all precautions were merely anticipatory (at least in the books)

            – apoorv020
            Aug 2 '11 at 19:45











          • Perhaps not in the Order per se, but 'trusted by Dumbledore'. That still makes him invaluable.

            – Jeff
            Aug 2 '11 at 19:50






          • 8





            This is the 7th book we are talking about. Dumbledore dies in the sixth, and Snape is publicly proclaimed his murderer.

            – apoorv020
            Aug 2 '11 at 19:56






          • 2





            The order planned it. Better to know its coming at you than wonder and be caught unawares.

            – Chad
            Aug 3 '11 at 16:34






          • 1





            The ambush traded Harry for Mad Eye. Not quite sure how good that trade is if you see it objectively, since one is a fledgling teenager and the other is an experienced Auror. He is the boy who lived, but at that point in the sorry the title was more of a prophecy rather than actual proven ability.

            – Lie Ryan
            Jul 6 '14 at 2:57





















          1














          I just wanted to add to the first comment here, with regard to Dumbledore telling Snape to tell Voldemort. Yes, in order to gain the unconditional trust of Voldemort.



          Dumbledore's reasoning was that he wanted Snape to become Headmaster, and protect the school from the Carrows.






          share|improve this answer































            -2














            Or just accept the obvious answer: It's a plot hole. Voldemort already knew that Snape was not trusted by the Order from the point where he killed Dumbledore at the end of the previous school year. Even if the plan to move Harry had been agreed upon before that, there was no way for Voldemort to have known that. There is, therefore, no logical reason why Snape could not have said that he didn't know.






            share|improve this answer





















            • 2





              You're probably being downvoted because we rather dislike "plot hole" answers. In this case in particular, the answer, which is not a plot hole, is specifically stated in the book, see the accepted answer.

              – Kevin
              Apr 14 '12 at 2:38











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            5 Answers
            5






            active

            oldest

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            5 Answers
            5






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            40














            From the Deathly Hallows, page 688:




            "You will have to give Voldemort the correct date of Harry's departure from his aunt and uncle's," said Dumbledore. "Not to do so will raise suspicion, when Voldemort believes you so well informed."







            share|improve this answer
























            • So, I guess they were planning it prior, and didn't want to change their plans, or didn't know Snape knew... Wow...

              – PearsonArtPhoto
              Feb 10 '12 at 4:00






            • 2





              @PearsonArtPhoto: That is precisely why I cannot choose the wine in front of me. (Please excuse the mixing of stories.)

              – Codes with Hammer
              Jun 12 '14 at 16:49
















            40














            From the Deathly Hallows, page 688:




            "You will have to give Voldemort the correct date of Harry's departure from his aunt and uncle's," said Dumbledore. "Not to do so will raise suspicion, when Voldemort believes you so well informed."







            share|improve this answer
























            • So, I guess they were planning it prior, and didn't want to change their plans, or didn't know Snape knew... Wow...

              – PearsonArtPhoto
              Feb 10 '12 at 4:00






            • 2





              @PearsonArtPhoto: That is precisely why I cannot choose the wine in front of me. (Please excuse the mixing of stories.)

              – Codes with Hammer
              Jun 12 '14 at 16:49














            40












            40








            40







            From the Deathly Hallows, page 688:




            "You will have to give Voldemort the correct date of Harry's departure from his aunt and uncle's," said Dumbledore. "Not to do so will raise suspicion, when Voldemort believes you so well informed."







            share|improve this answer













            From the Deathly Hallows, page 688:




            "You will have to give Voldemort the correct date of Harry's departure from his aunt and uncle's," said Dumbledore. "Not to do so will raise suspicion, when Voldemort believes you so well informed."








            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Feb 10 '12 at 3:44









            KatieRKatieR

            1,23231514




            1,23231514













            • So, I guess they were planning it prior, and didn't want to change their plans, or didn't know Snape knew... Wow...

              – PearsonArtPhoto
              Feb 10 '12 at 4:00






            • 2





              @PearsonArtPhoto: That is precisely why I cannot choose the wine in front of me. (Please excuse the mixing of stories.)

              – Codes with Hammer
              Jun 12 '14 at 16:49



















            • So, I guess they were planning it prior, and didn't want to change their plans, or didn't know Snape knew... Wow...

              – PearsonArtPhoto
              Feb 10 '12 at 4:00






            • 2





              @PearsonArtPhoto: That is precisely why I cannot choose the wine in front of me. (Please excuse the mixing of stories.)

              – Codes with Hammer
              Jun 12 '14 at 16:49

















            So, I guess they were planning it prior, and didn't want to change their plans, or didn't know Snape knew... Wow...

            – PearsonArtPhoto
            Feb 10 '12 at 4:00





            So, I guess they were planning it prior, and didn't want to change their plans, or didn't know Snape knew... Wow...

            – PearsonArtPhoto
            Feb 10 '12 at 4:00




            2




            2





            @PearsonArtPhoto: That is precisely why I cannot choose the wine in front of me. (Please excuse the mixing of stories.)

            – Codes with Hammer
            Jun 12 '14 at 16:49





            @PearsonArtPhoto: That is precisely why I cannot choose the wine in front of me. (Please excuse the mixing of stories.)

            – Codes with Hammer
            Jun 12 '14 at 16:49













            38














            Snape does not have Voldemort's unconditional trust. In the books, many people (especially Bellatrix) are shown to resent him and distrust him, pointing to his apparent loyalty to Dumbledore.



            The information about Harry leaving from his house is leaked by Snape, but he makes sure that Voldemort does not know about the Polyjuice potion. It's just a part of walking the fine line between winning the enemy's trust and helping his own side.






            share|improve this answer





















            • 6





              In fact, I believe Snape's under close scrutiny during the meeting when he does reveal the timing of the move ... and even when he brings it up, his word is doubted.

              – Dave DuPlantis
              Aug 2 '11 at 20:11






            • 7





              It's not just Snape... Voldemort doesn't have complete trust in anyone, with the exception of himself.

              – TGnat
              Aug 2 '11 at 20:48






            • 2





              I'll have to dig it up, but I believe it's part of the memories Harry gets at the end.. Dumbledore's portrait talking about keeping V's trust with limited info, but confunding Dung into suggesting Polyjuice.

              – K-H-W
              Jan 19 '12 at 2:00
















            38














            Snape does not have Voldemort's unconditional trust. In the books, many people (especially Bellatrix) are shown to resent him and distrust him, pointing to his apparent loyalty to Dumbledore.



            The information about Harry leaving from his house is leaked by Snape, but he makes sure that Voldemort does not know about the Polyjuice potion. It's just a part of walking the fine line between winning the enemy's trust and helping his own side.






            share|improve this answer





















            • 6





              In fact, I believe Snape's under close scrutiny during the meeting when he does reveal the timing of the move ... and even when he brings it up, his word is doubted.

              – Dave DuPlantis
              Aug 2 '11 at 20:11






            • 7





              It's not just Snape... Voldemort doesn't have complete trust in anyone, with the exception of himself.

              – TGnat
              Aug 2 '11 at 20:48






            • 2





              I'll have to dig it up, but I believe it's part of the memories Harry gets at the end.. Dumbledore's portrait talking about keeping V's trust with limited info, but confunding Dung into suggesting Polyjuice.

              – K-H-W
              Jan 19 '12 at 2:00














            38












            38








            38







            Snape does not have Voldemort's unconditional trust. In the books, many people (especially Bellatrix) are shown to resent him and distrust him, pointing to his apparent loyalty to Dumbledore.



            The information about Harry leaving from his house is leaked by Snape, but he makes sure that Voldemort does not know about the Polyjuice potion. It's just a part of walking the fine line between winning the enemy's trust and helping his own side.






            share|improve this answer















            Snape does not have Voldemort's unconditional trust. In the books, many people (especially Bellatrix) are shown to resent him and distrust him, pointing to his apparent loyalty to Dumbledore.



            The information about Harry leaving from his house is leaked by Snape, but he makes sure that Voldemort does not know about the Polyjuice potion. It's just a part of walking the fine line between winning the enemy's trust and helping his own side.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Jan 19 '12 at 1:21









            Kevin

            26.5k11111157




            26.5k11111157










            answered Aug 2 '11 at 19:43









            apoorv020apoorv020

            12.4k562103




            12.4k562103








            • 6





              In fact, I believe Snape's under close scrutiny during the meeting when he does reveal the timing of the move ... and even when he brings it up, his word is doubted.

              – Dave DuPlantis
              Aug 2 '11 at 20:11






            • 7





              It's not just Snape... Voldemort doesn't have complete trust in anyone, with the exception of himself.

              – TGnat
              Aug 2 '11 at 20:48






            • 2





              I'll have to dig it up, but I believe it's part of the memories Harry gets at the end.. Dumbledore's portrait talking about keeping V's trust with limited info, but confunding Dung into suggesting Polyjuice.

              – K-H-W
              Jan 19 '12 at 2:00














            • 6





              In fact, I believe Snape's under close scrutiny during the meeting when he does reveal the timing of the move ... and even when he brings it up, his word is doubted.

              – Dave DuPlantis
              Aug 2 '11 at 20:11






            • 7





              It's not just Snape... Voldemort doesn't have complete trust in anyone, with the exception of himself.

              – TGnat
              Aug 2 '11 at 20:48






            • 2





              I'll have to dig it up, but I believe it's part of the memories Harry gets at the end.. Dumbledore's portrait talking about keeping V's trust with limited info, but confunding Dung into suggesting Polyjuice.

              – K-H-W
              Jan 19 '12 at 2:00








            6




            6





            In fact, I believe Snape's under close scrutiny during the meeting when he does reveal the timing of the move ... and even when he brings it up, his word is doubted.

            – Dave DuPlantis
            Aug 2 '11 at 20:11





            In fact, I believe Snape's under close scrutiny during the meeting when he does reveal the timing of the move ... and even when he brings it up, his word is doubted.

            – Dave DuPlantis
            Aug 2 '11 at 20:11




            7




            7





            It's not just Snape... Voldemort doesn't have complete trust in anyone, with the exception of himself.

            – TGnat
            Aug 2 '11 at 20:48





            It's not just Snape... Voldemort doesn't have complete trust in anyone, with the exception of himself.

            – TGnat
            Aug 2 '11 at 20:48




            2




            2





            I'll have to dig it up, but I believe it's part of the memories Harry gets at the end.. Dumbledore's portrait talking about keeping V's trust with limited info, but confunding Dung into suggesting Polyjuice.

            – K-H-W
            Jan 19 '12 at 2:00





            I'll have to dig it up, but I believe it's part of the memories Harry gets at the end.. Dumbledore's portrait talking about keeping V's trust with limited info, but confunding Dung into suggesting Polyjuice.

            – K-H-W
            Jan 19 '12 at 2:00











            14














            If Snape hadn't told him, despite the fact that Snape MUST have known, Voldemort would have had to assume one of two things:



            a) Snape was no longer trusted by the Order - vital information was withheld from him. His usefulness as a spy is ended - if he's untrusted, the Order won't tell him anything important, and may use him for disinformation.



            OR



            b) Snape cannot be trusted to give Voldemort accurate information. His usefulness as a spy is ended, as Voldemort has no one else in the Order who can serve as independent verification for information Snape gives, and Snape is too good at Occlumancy for his mind to be read.



            In either case, Snape's usefulness to big V (and thus, to the Order as a double-agent) ends, likely with his death.



            On the other hand, look at the results: moving a vulnerable target during a prepared ambush, the Order suffers very minor losses. Yes, some important characters suffer, but overall the losses are much less than could be expected - the ambush was supposed to leave no survivors. The Order acted heroically and skillfully, and gave as good as they got...because Snape told them the ambush was coming. And, of course, lived to serve them more.



            Edit: As Katie's answer shows, this was planned before Dumbledore's death to ensure that Big V trusted Snape - doing so allowed him to continue working against him from within the Death Eaters despite having been cast out of the Order.






            share|improve this answer





















            • 10





              :At that point, Snape was not part of the order. Also, he did not tell them about the ambush, all precautions were merely anticipatory (at least in the books)

              – apoorv020
              Aug 2 '11 at 19:45











            • Perhaps not in the Order per se, but 'trusted by Dumbledore'. That still makes him invaluable.

              – Jeff
              Aug 2 '11 at 19:50






            • 8





              This is the 7th book we are talking about. Dumbledore dies in the sixth, and Snape is publicly proclaimed his murderer.

              – apoorv020
              Aug 2 '11 at 19:56






            • 2





              The order planned it. Better to know its coming at you than wonder and be caught unawares.

              – Chad
              Aug 3 '11 at 16:34






            • 1





              The ambush traded Harry for Mad Eye. Not quite sure how good that trade is if you see it objectively, since one is a fledgling teenager and the other is an experienced Auror. He is the boy who lived, but at that point in the sorry the title was more of a prophecy rather than actual proven ability.

              – Lie Ryan
              Jul 6 '14 at 2:57


















            14














            If Snape hadn't told him, despite the fact that Snape MUST have known, Voldemort would have had to assume one of two things:



            a) Snape was no longer trusted by the Order - vital information was withheld from him. His usefulness as a spy is ended - if he's untrusted, the Order won't tell him anything important, and may use him for disinformation.



            OR



            b) Snape cannot be trusted to give Voldemort accurate information. His usefulness as a spy is ended, as Voldemort has no one else in the Order who can serve as independent verification for information Snape gives, and Snape is too good at Occlumancy for his mind to be read.



            In either case, Snape's usefulness to big V (and thus, to the Order as a double-agent) ends, likely with his death.



            On the other hand, look at the results: moving a vulnerable target during a prepared ambush, the Order suffers very minor losses. Yes, some important characters suffer, but overall the losses are much less than could be expected - the ambush was supposed to leave no survivors. The Order acted heroically and skillfully, and gave as good as they got...because Snape told them the ambush was coming. And, of course, lived to serve them more.



            Edit: As Katie's answer shows, this was planned before Dumbledore's death to ensure that Big V trusted Snape - doing so allowed him to continue working against him from within the Death Eaters despite having been cast out of the Order.






            share|improve this answer





















            • 10





              :At that point, Snape was not part of the order. Also, he did not tell them about the ambush, all precautions were merely anticipatory (at least in the books)

              – apoorv020
              Aug 2 '11 at 19:45











            • Perhaps not in the Order per se, but 'trusted by Dumbledore'. That still makes him invaluable.

              – Jeff
              Aug 2 '11 at 19:50






            • 8





              This is the 7th book we are talking about. Dumbledore dies in the sixth, and Snape is publicly proclaimed his murderer.

              – apoorv020
              Aug 2 '11 at 19:56






            • 2





              The order planned it. Better to know its coming at you than wonder and be caught unawares.

              – Chad
              Aug 3 '11 at 16:34






            • 1





              The ambush traded Harry for Mad Eye. Not quite sure how good that trade is if you see it objectively, since one is a fledgling teenager and the other is an experienced Auror. He is the boy who lived, but at that point in the sorry the title was more of a prophecy rather than actual proven ability.

              – Lie Ryan
              Jul 6 '14 at 2:57
















            14












            14








            14







            If Snape hadn't told him, despite the fact that Snape MUST have known, Voldemort would have had to assume one of two things:



            a) Snape was no longer trusted by the Order - vital information was withheld from him. His usefulness as a spy is ended - if he's untrusted, the Order won't tell him anything important, and may use him for disinformation.



            OR



            b) Snape cannot be trusted to give Voldemort accurate information. His usefulness as a spy is ended, as Voldemort has no one else in the Order who can serve as independent verification for information Snape gives, and Snape is too good at Occlumancy for his mind to be read.



            In either case, Snape's usefulness to big V (and thus, to the Order as a double-agent) ends, likely with his death.



            On the other hand, look at the results: moving a vulnerable target during a prepared ambush, the Order suffers very minor losses. Yes, some important characters suffer, but overall the losses are much less than could be expected - the ambush was supposed to leave no survivors. The Order acted heroically and skillfully, and gave as good as they got...because Snape told them the ambush was coming. And, of course, lived to serve them more.



            Edit: As Katie's answer shows, this was planned before Dumbledore's death to ensure that Big V trusted Snape - doing so allowed him to continue working against him from within the Death Eaters despite having been cast out of the Order.






            share|improve this answer















            If Snape hadn't told him, despite the fact that Snape MUST have known, Voldemort would have had to assume one of two things:



            a) Snape was no longer trusted by the Order - vital information was withheld from him. His usefulness as a spy is ended - if he's untrusted, the Order won't tell him anything important, and may use him for disinformation.



            OR



            b) Snape cannot be trusted to give Voldemort accurate information. His usefulness as a spy is ended, as Voldemort has no one else in the Order who can serve as independent verification for information Snape gives, and Snape is too good at Occlumancy for his mind to be read.



            In either case, Snape's usefulness to big V (and thus, to the Order as a double-agent) ends, likely with his death.



            On the other hand, look at the results: moving a vulnerable target during a prepared ambush, the Order suffers very minor losses. Yes, some important characters suffer, but overall the losses are much less than could be expected - the ambush was supposed to leave no survivors. The Order acted heroically and skillfully, and gave as good as they got...because Snape told them the ambush was coming. And, of course, lived to serve them more.



            Edit: As Katie's answer shows, this was planned before Dumbledore's death to ensure that Big V trusted Snape - doing so allowed him to continue working against him from within the Death Eaters despite having been cast out of the Order.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:43









            Community

            1




            1










            answered Aug 2 '11 at 19:43









            JeffJeff

            93.7k27311390




            93.7k27311390








            • 10





              :At that point, Snape was not part of the order. Also, he did not tell them about the ambush, all precautions were merely anticipatory (at least in the books)

              – apoorv020
              Aug 2 '11 at 19:45











            • Perhaps not in the Order per se, but 'trusted by Dumbledore'. That still makes him invaluable.

              – Jeff
              Aug 2 '11 at 19:50






            • 8





              This is the 7th book we are talking about. Dumbledore dies in the sixth, and Snape is publicly proclaimed his murderer.

              – apoorv020
              Aug 2 '11 at 19:56






            • 2





              The order planned it. Better to know its coming at you than wonder and be caught unawares.

              – Chad
              Aug 3 '11 at 16:34






            • 1





              The ambush traded Harry for Mad Eye. Not quite sure how good that trade is if you see it objectively, since one is a fledgling teenager and the other is an experienced Auror. He is the boy who lived, but at that point in the sorry the title was more of a prophecy rather than actual proven ability.

              – Lie Ryan
              Jul 6 '14 at 2:57
















            • 10





              :At that point, Snape was not part of the order. Also, he did not tell them about the ambush, all precautions were merely anticipatory (at least in the books)

              – apoorv020
              Aug 2 '11 at 19:45











            • Perhaps not in the Order per se, but 'trusted by Dumbledore'. That still makes him invaluable.

              – Jeff
              Aug 2 '11 at 19:50






            • 8





              This is the 7th book we are talking about. Dumbledore dies in the sixth, and Snape is publicly proclaimed his murderer.

              – apoorv020
              Aug 2 '11 at 19:56






            • 2





              The order planned it. Better to know its coming at you than wonder and be caught unawares.

              – Chad
              Aug 3 '11 at 16:34






            • 1





              The ambush traded Harry for Mad Eye. Not quite sure how good that trade is if you see it objectively, since one is a fledgling teenager and the other is an experienced Auror. He is the boy who lived, but at that point in the sorry the title was more of a prophecy rather than actual proven ability.

              – Lie Ryan
              Jul 6 '14 at 2:57










            10




            10





            :At that point, Snape was not part of the order. Also, he did not tell them about the ambush, all precautions were merely anticipatory (at least in the books)

            – apoorv020
            Aug 2 '11 at 19:45





            :At that point, Snape was not part of the order. Also, he did not tell them about the ambush, all precautions were merely anticipatory (at least in the books)

            – apoorv020
            Aug 2 '11 at 19:45













            Perhaps not in the Order per se, but 'trusted by Dumbledore'. That still makes him invaluable.

            – Jeff
            Aug 2 '11 at 19:50





            Perhaps not in the Order per se, but 'trusted by Dumbledore'. That still makes him invaluable.

            – Jeff
            Aug 2 '11 at 19:50




            8




            8





            This is the 7th book we are talking about. Dumbledore dies in the sixth, and Snape is publicly proclaimed his murderer.

            – apoorv020
            Aug 2 '11 at 19:56





            This is the 7th book we are talking about. Dumbledore dies in the sixth, and Snape is publicly proclaimed his murderer.

            – apoorv020
            Aug 2 '11 at 19:56




            2




            2





            The order planned it. Better to know its coming at you than wonder and be caught unawares.

            – Chad
            Aug 3 '11 at 16:34





            The order planned it. Better to know its coming at you than wonder and be caught unawares.

            – Chad
            Aug 3 '11 at 16:34




            1




            1





            The ambush traded Harry for Mad Eye. Not quite sure how good that trade is if you see it objectively, since one is a fledgling teenager and the other is an experienced Auror. He is the boy who lived, but at that point in the sorry the title was more of a prophecy rather than actual proven ability.

            – Lie Ryan
            Jul 6 '14 at 2:57







            The ambush traded Harry for Mad Eye. Not quite sure how good that trade is if you see it objectively, since one is a fledgling teenager and the other is an experienced Auror. He is the boy who lived, but at that point in the sorry the title was more of a prophecy rather than actual proven ability.

            – Lie Ryan
            Jul 6 '14 at 2:57













            1














            I just wanted to add to the first comment here, with regard to Dumbledore telling Snape to tell Voldemort. Yes, in order to gain the unconditional trust of Voldemort.



            Dumbledore's reasoning was that he wanted Snape to become Headmaster, and protect the school from the Carrows.






            share|improve this answer




























              1














              I just wanted to add to the first comment here, with regard to Dumbledore telling Snape to tell Voldemort. Yes, in order to gain the unconditional trust of Voldemort.



              Dumbledore's reasoning was that he wanted Snape to become Headmaster, and protect the school from the Carrows.






              share|improve this answer


























                1












                1








                1







                I just wanted to add to the first comment here, with regard to Dumbledore telling Snape to tell Voldemort. Yes, in order to gain the unconditional trust of Voldemort.



                Dumbledore's reasoning was that he wanted Snape to become Headmaster, and protect the school from the Carrows.






                share|improve this answer













                I just wanted to add to the first comment here, with regard to Dumbledore telling Snape to tell Voldemort. Yes, in order to gain the unconditional trust of Voldemort.



                Dumbledore's reasoning was that he wanted Snape to become Headmaster, and protect the school from the Carrows.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered May 17 '12 at 18:23









                Manik SethisuwanManik Sethisuwan

                1,23541528




                1,23541528























                    -2














                    Or just accept the obvious answer: It's a plot hole. Voldemort already knew that Snape was not trusted by the Order from the point where he killed Dumbledore at the end of the previous school year. Even if the plan to move Harry had been agreed upon before that, there was no way for Voldemort to have known that. There is, therefore, no logical reason why Snape could not have said that he didn't know.






                    share|improve this answer





















                    • 2





                      You're probably being downvoted because we rather dislike "plot hole" answers. In this case in particular, the answer, which is not a plot hole, is specifically stated in the book, see the accepted answer.

                      – Kevin
                      Apr 14 '12 at 2:38
















                    -2














                    Or just accept the obvious answer: It's a plot hole. Voldemort already knew that Snape was not trusted by the Order from the point where he killed Dumbledore at the end of the previous school year. Even if the plan to move Harry had been agreed upon before that, there was no way for Voldemort to have known that. There is, therefore, no logical reason why Snape could not have said that he didn't know.






                    share|improve this answer





















                    • 2





                      You're probably being downvoted because we rather dislike "plot hole" answers. In this case in particular, the answer, which is not a plot hole, is specifically stated in the book, see the accepted answer.

                      – Kevin
                      Apr 14 '12 at 2:38














                    -2












                    -2








                    -2







                    Or just accept the obvious answer: It's a plot hole. Voldemort already knew that Snape was not trusted by the Order from the point where he killed Dumbledore at the end of the previous school year. Even if the plan to move Harry had been agreed upon before that, there was no way for Voldemort to have known that. There is, therefore, no logical reason why Snape could not have said that he didn't know.






                    share|improve this answer















                    Or just accept the obvious answer: It's a plot hole. Voldemort already knew that Snape was not trusted by the Order from the point where he killed Dumbledore at the end of the previous school year. Even if the plan to move Harry had been agreed upon before that, there was no way for Voldemort to have known that. There is, therefore, no logical reason why Snape could not have said that he didn't know.







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited Apr 14 '12 at 2:46









                    Slytherincess

                    120k106618857




                    120k106618857










                    answered Apr 13 '12 at 22:41









                    PotterwatcherPotterwatcher

                    19




                    19








                    • 2





                      You're probably being downvoted because we rather dislike "plot hole" answers. In this case in particular, the answer, which is not a plot hole, is specifically stated in the book, see the accepted answer.

                      – Kevin
                      Apr 14 '12 at 2:38














                    • 2





                      You're probably being downvoted because we rather dislike "plot hole" answers. In this case in particular, the answer, which is not a plot hole, is specifically stated in the book, see the accepted answer.

                      – Kevin
                      Apr 14 '12 at 2:38








                    2




                    2





                    You're probably being downvoted because we rather dislike "plot hole" answers. In this case in particular, the answer, which is not a plot hole, is specifically stated in the book, see the accepted answer.

                    – Kevin
                    Apr 14 '12 at 2:38





                    You're probably being downvoted because we rather dislike "plot hole" answers. In this case in particular, the answer, which is not a plot hole, is specifically stated in the book, see the accepted answer.

                    – Kevin
                    Apr 14 '12 at 2:38


















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