Some Sybil questions (or questions on the Sybil...)

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 124820


Ffred wrote:
> Just to try to spark some discussion in a new direction, here's some
> ponderings on Sybil T.

Potioncat:
Great idea! 
> 
> 1. Canon is silent on how old she is. Let's say she was born round 
about 1950. Positing (as well we might) that wizarding lifespans and 
generations are around 3 times those of muggles, that would place Dad 
Trelawny's birth round about 1860,...>snip

Potioncat:
Well, the life spans are very long, but so far it appears that 
couples have babies around the same age as Muggles do. So I'm not 
sure these dates are correct. Does the Chocolate Frog cards give 
Cassandra's dates? 

> 3. What precisely made Sybil decide to apply for the Hogwarts post? 
Canon suggests that she didn't have anything to recommend her at the 
time. Is that correct? Might she have shown some abilities before 
applying? Otherwise why submit herself to Dumbledore (who let's face 
it is a powerful wizard) for scrutiny if she was just putting it on?
 
Potioncat:
It sounded as if DD didn't plan to fill a vacancy. Although he does 
seem to value prophecies. Perhaps he doesn't think it is an easily 
taught magic. She may have felt she had the sight even if no one else 
thought she had it. I'd like to know how old she is too. Was she at 
Hogwarts with the Marauders and Snape? or is she older? 
> 
>> 
> 5. The question about who the eavesdropper was has been frequently
> discussed, so I won't pose it again, just to point out that it 
couldn't have been Peter (who after all was a trusted member of the 
Order snip

Potioncat:
But, if a rat was found dozing in the hallway, it would be chased out 
pretty quickly. We don't know when DD found out about an 
eavesdropper, or if the person who expelled the eavesdropper 
even knew that eavesdropping was happening.  

Can I make that more clear? Someone sees a rat and tries to catch it, 
but it escapes. In conversation to DD something is said about 
needing an exterminator because of the rat. Some time later, DD 
discovers part of his conversation had been overheard and even later 
puts it all together.  I'm not saying it was Peter, but it could have 
been.


Potioncat...great questions, wish I had more answers.