<P> Before leaving Hogwarts to accompany Dumbledore in locating another horcrux -- part of Voldemort 's soul -- Harry discovers from Professor Trelawney that it was Snape who overheard the prophecy and told it to Voldemort , resulting in Voldemort hunting down Harry and his parents . Despite this and Harry 's angry questions , Dumbledore avers his trust in Snape . Returning to Hogwarts after retrieving Voldemort 's Horcrux , Harry and Dumbledore alight atop the school 's astronomy tower . Gravely weakened by the horcrux 's protective potion , Dumbledore tells Harry he must fetch Snape , but before Harry can leave , Draco suddenly arrives , intending to carry out Voldemort 's order to assassinate Dumbledore , closely followed by other Death Eaters ( followers of Voldemort ) , and Snape . Snape interrupts the planned murder , killing the headmaster himself . Harry , who is paralysed under his invisibility cloak by Dumbledore for his own protection , witnesses the kill , and is released upon Dumbledore 's death . Enraged , he pursues Snape , Draco , and the Death Eaters as they flee the castle . Snape easily blocks Harry 's spells and jeeringly points out Harry 's mistakes , but never strikes back . During the confrontation , Snape reveals himself as the eponymous `` Half - Blood Prince '' ( being the half - blood son of Muggle Tobias Snape and pure - blood Eileen Prince ) . Snape passes through the school gates and Disapparates with Draco in tow at the book 's end . The full relationship between Dumbledore and Snape and the reason for Snape 's actions remain unknown until the final book . In an interview , Rowling mentioned that at this point in the series , the Harry -- Snape relationship has become `` as personal , if not more so , than Harry -- Voldemort . '' </P>
<P> Before leaving Hogwarts to accompany Dumbledore in locating another horcrux -- part of Voldemort 's soul -- Harry discovers from Professor Trelawney that it was Snape who overheard the prophecy and told it to Voldemort , resulting in Voldemort hunting down Harry and his parents . Despite this and Harry 's angry questions , Dumbledore avers his trust in Snape . Returning to Hogwarts after retrieving Voldemort 's Horcrux , Harry and Dumbledore alight atop the school 's astronomy tower . Gravely weakened by the horcrux 's protective potion , Dumbledore tells Harry he must fetch Snape , but before Harry can leave , Draco suddenly arrives , intending to carry out Voldemort 's order to assassinate Dumbledore , closely followed by other Death Eaters ( followers of Voldemort ) , and Snape . Snape interrupts the planned murder , killing the headmaster himself . Harry , who is paralysed under his invisibility cloak by Dumbledore for his own protection , witnesses the kill , and is released upon Dumbledore 's death . Enraged , he pursues Snape , Draco , and the Death Eaters as they flee the castle . Snape easily blocks Harry 's spells and jeeringly points out Harry 's mistakes , but never strikes back . During the confrontation , Snape reveals himself as the eponymous `` Half - Blood Prince '' ( being the half - blood son of Muggle Tobias Snape and pure - blood Eileen Prince ) . Snape passes through the school gates and Disapparates with Draco in tow at the book 's end . The full relationship between Dumbledore and Snape and the reason for Snape 's actions remain unknown until the final book . In an interview , Rowling mentioned that at this point in the series , the Harry -- Snape relationship has become `` as personal , if not more so , than Harry -- Voldemort . '' </P>
what does it mean snape is the half blood prince
what does it mean snape is the half blood prince
the half - blood son of Muggle Tobias Snape and pure - blood Eileen Prince
the half - blood son of Muggle Tobias Snape and pure - blood Eileen Prince