[HPforGrownups] Re: JKR and the obvious

[Christina Katsos]

No: HPFGUIDX 132550


>
>Marianne:
>
>I realize I'm being nit-picky on this, but I'm still convinced that
>in that scene the first to leave the table is Ginny. She is
>described as kneeling amidst a pile of butterbeer corks on the floor
>playing with Crookshanks well before Sirius stands up.  Now, maybe
>she simply slid out of her chair to get to the floor, and didn't
>technically stand up, but she was definitely the one who left her
>seat first. So, Sirius' death doesn't fit the "Trelawney 13"
>warning, either.


Christina:  I don't think it's being nitpicky; I've thought about it 
myself.  Trelawney's exact words are "Never forget that when thirteen dine 
together, the first to rise will be the first to die!" (PoA paperback pg 
228).  Does she mean the first to rise up above their chair?  The first to 
remove themselves from their chair?  It's not really clear.  What makes me 
think that the dinner scene does fit Trelawney's prediction is the fact 
that Sirius's rising from his chair seems to very heavily emphasized.

(BEGIN QUOTE- OP US hardcover, pg 90)
"Yes, said Mrs. Weasley, her lip curling.  "The thing is, it's been rather 
difficult for you to look after him while you've been locked up in Azkaban, 
hasn't it?"

Sirius started to rise from his chair.

"Molly, you're not the only person at this table who cares about Harry," 
said Lupin sharply.  "Sirius, sit *down*."

Mrs. Weasley's lower lip was trembling.  Sirius sank slowly back into his 
chair, his face white.
(END QUOTE)

The word "rise" is used specifically here, and Sirius getting up from his 
chair is given its own paragraph.  Lupin comments on Sirius being out of 
his chair, and it's said that he sinks slowly back into it again.  I also 
found it interesting that Sirius "sinks" yet again in his death scene at 
the end of "Beyond the Veil."

Now, it would have been wonderful if the word "rise" was also used in 
conjunction with Mrs. Weasley's departure from the table, but page 91 uses 
"standing up" instead.

It might seem like a stretch (after all, if Rowling really meant for the 
13-people prediction to apply here, why have Ginny sitting on the floor at 
all?  She could have just left her in her chair like everyone else), but I 
find it difficult to believe that Rowling would insert Trelawney's worries 
about 13-guest tables if it didn't mean anything (particularly since 
Trelawney brings the subject up again when Ron and Harry get up from the 
table in PoA).

I am also using Trelawney's prediction in the context of my own beliefs 
about deaths in the near future--I'm convinced we'll see the death of a 
Weasley soon.  Bill and Charlie seem too underdeveloped to be killed off, 
and I can't see either of the twins dying anytime soon either (they are too 
much of a unit, and it strikes me as odd to kill off the comic relief).  I 
think Ron and Ginny will survive through to the seventh book, so that 
leaves Percy and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.


Christina