Embedded Clues

[alshainofthenorth]

No: HPFGUIDX 123662


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Brenda M." 
<Agent_Maxine_is at h...> wrote:
> 2. "abelincoln1864" connected the dots:
> ~ [In Prisoner of Azkaban], at Christmas dinner Trewlawney freaks 
> out because 13 people are dining together, and "the first to stand 
> is going to be the first to die" it's just laughed off then.
> 
> Then later, in OOtP, they have most of the Order and Harry sitting 
> in Sirius' house at a meeting, 13 of them dining together, and 
> Sirius gets mad at Molly and -- stands up first. :O ~
> 

Alshain, in de-bunking mode:
This is a pretty hypothesis that's been advanced lots of times since 
June 2003, but it doesn't hold water. Sirius is in fact the *third* 
person who rises from the table that night. Quotes:

"For some reason, Mrs Weasley threw a very nasty look at Sirius 
before getting to her feet and going to fetch a large rhubarb crumble 
for pudding." P. 82, British edition.

"[...]Ginny, who had lured Crookshanks out from under the dresser, 
was sitting cross-legged on the floor, rolling Butterbeer corks for 
him to chase." P. 83.

Sirius doesn't rise from the table until page 86.

Someone explain to me why Molly and Ginny count among the thirteen 
people having dinner but avoid getting struck by the curse. Do only 
males count or what? Trelawney's other predictions probably involve 
breaking mirrors, leaving keys on the table, walking under ladders or 
spitting after black cats, and I count the "thirteen at dinner" 
superstition among them. JKR has established very strongly that 
Trelawney only makes real predictions while in a trance. Sort of a 
reverse Cassandra who doesn't believe in her real prophecies.

Alshain