Trelawney the fraud?

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 86857

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "KathyK" <zanelupin at y...> 
wrote:
> 
> I'll admit it surprised me a great deal that Dumbledore, who seems 
> to represent the tolerant side of the WW, would dismiss a subject 
> and indeed discontinue the subject at Hogwarts.  Why would 
> Dumbledore discourage the study of any subject?  Then again, in a 
> sense it does seem like a Dumbledore sort of decision, as he was 
> headmaster of Hogwarts during Voldemort's reign.  Perhaps he felt 
> there were other subjects that merited more attention than 
> Divination.  In this instance, Trelawney's prophecy pertaining 
> specifically to Voldemort, could have taught him a lesson about 
what 
> he deems worthwhile versus what may actually be valuable.  


JenR: I suspect Dumbledore was more appreciative of the type of 
Divination the centaurs believe in, rather than the 'fortune-
telling' of someone like Trelawney. He may have only been re-
evaluating the "crystal-ball-and-tea-leaves" type Divination class, 
and suspected Trelawney would be that kind of teacher. Then, like 
you said Kathy, he re-evaluated the role of Divination after the 
Prophecy.

It still bugs me though, that DD was so dismissive of Trelawney in 
POA when he and Harry were discussing her second Prophecy. Harry 
mentions she "went very--very strange" and DD says, "Er--stranger 
than usual, you mean?" (POS, chap. 22, p. 426) Later after Harry 
tells him about the second Prophecy he makes the comment about "That 
brings her total of real predictions up to two. I should offer her a 
pay raise..." That was demeaning, to say that in front of a student! 
The only other adult he seems to treat this way is Snape (end of 
POA). He seems to have more of a parent/child relationship with both 
of them.

Jen, who supposes Dumbledore is allowed a mistake now and again 
while he's trying to save the WW ;).