Prof Sinistra (wasRe: Question re "little hint" in Book 2 of what is yet to come

[antoshachekhonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 101438

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lifeavantgarde" <musicofsilence at h...> wrote:
> I've heard rumors about this "little hint" but have yet to see the 
> actual interview in which JKR actually makes this comment...
> 
> But if we're speculating:
> "Justin was carried up to the hospital wing by Professor Flitwick 
> and Professor Sinistra of the Astronomy department..." (CoS 11)
> 
> Professor Sinistra is barely mentioned in the books -- but being 
> that she's the astronomy teacher (and we know how JKR likes to play 
> with the significance of her teacher's names...) could her name and 
> station be a hint at things to come?
> 
> According to this fixed stars site 
> (http://www.winshop.com.au/annew/Sinistra.html), Sinistra is the 
> star on the right hand of the constellation Ophiuchus -- the Serpent 
> Bearer. In this case could, Sinistra being the right hand of 
> the "serpent bearer" indicate that there's more than meets the eye 
> to this mysterious professor? 
> 
> Also included on the site, which sounded quite eerie when translated 
> into Potter-terms: "When Ophiuchus, encircled by the serpent's great 
> coils, rises he renders the forms of snakes innocuous to those born 
> under him. They will receive snakes into the folds of their flowing 
> robes, and will exchange kisses with these poisonous monsters and 
> suffer no harm." 
> 
> If Ophiuhcus, the serpent bearer, could represent LV, the image of 
> him rising and those born (reborn into his following?) under him 
> will have snakes [the dark mark??] in their flowing robes is a bit 
> forboding. Also, the image of them kissing snakes or as they are 
> described, "poisonous monsters" evokes images of certain kissing 
> dark creatures whose trustworthiness we've been warned about for 
> three books now. 
> 
> However, one must also take into account the other story regarding 
> Ophiuchus -- Mythology dictates that this constellation is actually 
> the body of Aesclepius, a known and supernaturally gifted healer, 
> one whose greatest medical achievement was actually bringing someone 
> back to life. Could Prof. Sinistra be useful in healing? 
> Interestingly, Aesclepius was killed by Zeus while in the process of 
> bringing Orion [The constellation that houses *Bellatrix*] back to 
> life.
> 
> This is just me going out on a limb, but I do think that it's odd 
> for JKR to pick *this star* (not a particularly bright or well known 
> star) out of the thousands of charted stars for her Astronomy 
> teacher...

Antosha: 

Your analysis is very thought-provoking. Nonetheless, doesn't it seem likely that Prof. 
Sinistra's name has more of a connection with Latin meaning: "Left side" and, therefore (no 
thunderbolts from the southpaws, please, I'm just looking at the classical mythology here) 
"evil"?

I had no idea there was such a star as "Sinistra" though. So I'll have to think about it....

I'm surprised we haven't seen much of Prof. Sinistra at all, since the trio and their friends 
have been taking Astronomy since the first year, right? I mean, that we don't know Prof. 
Vector or the Ancient Runes professor makes sense--Harry doesn't take those classes 
(even if Hermione does).

Hmmmm. I wonder what Harry is going to take to replace Divination in sixth year????