Who was 'chained for 12 years' , again?

[erisedstraeh2002 <erisedstraeh2002@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48593

Tanya wrote:

> In Professor Trelawney's second true prediction, who exactly is she 
> referring to when she says, "His servant has been chained these 12 
> years..."?
> 
> Because, no matter how I try to describe Pettigrew's 12 years as a 
> rat, I simply can't describe it as being "chained". And the timing 
> of the prediction doesn't seem to match either Barty Jr.'s escape 
> from Azkaban or escape from his father's imprisonment. So that 
> leaves Sirius and Buckbeak and possibly some other character we 
> haven't met yet, right? 

Now me:

I think we need to read "chained" more figuratively than literally.  
I think Trelawney is referencing Pettigrew, since he is the "servant" 
who "breaks free" "before midnight" and "sets out to rejoin his 
master."  Pettigrew also is the servant who helps Voldemort rise 
again.

Pettigrew has been chained in a figurative sense – locked in a rat's 
body.  I think if I were posing as a rat for 12 years, I would feel 
chained, also!  

Pickle Jimmy asked:
 
> But... how much do we trust Trelawney?? There seems to be a load of
> weight placed on a flippant remark by Dumbledore about her number 
> of actual predictions. Personally I think Ron is right, "She's an 
> old fraud."

Me again:

JKR herself has said that Trelawney's first prediction will be 
important (1999 Barnes and Noble Chat, see: 
http://www.geocities.com/aberforths_goat/text.htm):

Q: "In PRISONER OF AZKABAN, Professor Dumbledore mentions Professor 
Trelawney's `second true prediction.' What was Professor Trelawney's 
first true prediction?"

JKR: "I love a perceptive reader! Professor Trelawney's first 
prediction was a very important one. And you will find out in due 
course what it was, but I'm not going to reveal it at this stage. 
Sorry."

Tanya again:

> I was hoping that you guys had come to some unanimous agreement 
> about this issue and could perhaps fill me in? 

Me again:

There is no such thing as unanimous agreement on this list – that's 
what makes it so much fun!

~Phyllis