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harry potter - Was Severus Snape made a Death Eater before or after he told Voldemort about the Prophecy?


Based on discussion in comments on this answer, was Severus Snape a Death Eater (real one, with Dark Mark) before he overheard Sybil give the Prophecy to Dumbledore and relayed it to Voldemort? Or was he made a DE after that?


Canon sources only please (books/interviews/Pottermore)



Answer



As I interpret canon, Snape was a Death Eater in allegiance with Voldemort at the time he overheard, and subsequently told Voldemort about, the prophecy. Dumbledore certainly seems to imply this in Half-Blood Prince:




‘Professor Snape made a terrible mistake. He was still in Lord Voldemort’s employ on the night he heard the first half of Professor Trelawney’s prophecy. Naturally, he hastened to tell his master what he had heard, for it concerned his master most deeply.’

Albus Dumbledore - Half-Blood Prince - page 512 - Bloomsbury - chapter 25, The Seer Overheard



That Dumbledore says "still in Lord Voldemort's employ" suggests to me that Snape was nearing the end of his days as a Death Eater because it was Voldemort's interpretation of the prophecy -- and Voldemort's ultimate refusal to spare Lily's life -- that caused Snape to turn against Voldemort and become a double agent for Dumbledore. I think the timing of these events verifies that Snape was indeed a bona fide Death Eater at the time he overheard the prophecy.


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