Trelawney and the Centaurs

[brandgwen at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 9249

"Rachelle Elliott" <relliott at j...> wrote:
We have 2 primary ways to refer to Lord Voldermort:  Lord Voldermort 
and He-who-must-not-be-named.  Others such as Draco Malfoy, Lucius 
Malfoy, Crouch, Barty J.R., ('evil' or potentially evil wizards) call 
Voldermort the 'Dark Lord'.  Please correct me if I am mistaken. Here 
is the dilema:  Why does Professor Trelawney, in her prediction in
PoA Chapter 16, refer to him as the 'Dark Lord?'  Was she on the
other side or was it meerly an accident?

Very interesting.

It seems to me that the term "Dark Lord" implies a level of 
familiarity with Voldemort.  That is not to say that the term is any 
less formal than "He-who-...", but, rather would be used in his 
presence.  "He-who-..." is to "The Queen" as "Dark Lord" is to "Your 
Majesty".  It suggests that the individual has spoken to him in 
person.  It is no less correct, and so, may not be picked up if you 
are assuming the individual is innocent.  However, in conjunction
with other clues, it may be something of a tell.  A person who uses 
this phrase is or was in contact with Voldemort, or picked it up from 
someone who is/was.

In the case of Trelawney, I'm yet to be convinced that she is a 
baddie.  I just think she's just a nutter.  While she does use the 
phrase "Dark Lord" after her prediction, it is in response to Harry's 
quoting her previous words.  She then restates the phrase using her 
own words.

" 'The Dark Lord?  He Who Must Not Be Named?  My dear boy, that's 
hardly something to joke about... rise again, indeed...' "

What interests me, though, is the fact that, when making predictions, 
Trelawney does use someone else's voice and someone else's language.  
Thus far, I have assumed she was speaking for the fates, but what if 
she's not a seer at all?  What if she's just the unwitting dummy and 
the seer-ventriliquist is somewhere in the shadows?  

Here's a scatter-brained theory; as yet, we don't know what the 
Centaurs call Voldemort.  It is possbile that they know and have 
spoken with him, if only to refuse him their assistance.  In PS, Bane 
says " 'Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against 
the heavens...' "  Sworn to whom?  Maybe, having seen the impending 
bloodshed in the stars, the Centaurs made a deal with Voldemort - 
leave us alone and we won't oppose you.  However, as things got bad, 
this became too much for certain of the Centaurs.  Rather than openly 
break their truce, they used a human mouthpiece to get their message 
to Dumbledore.  That is why Bane and Ronan are so edgy about Firenze 
helping Harry - they know they are already on thin ice.  Young 
Firenze, however, does not.

Just an idea,
Gwen.