Chapter Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban Ch 16: Professor Trelawney's prediction

[willsonteam]

No: HPFGUIDX 190199


>
> Megan:
> Her fear of academic failure is such a recurring theme through the
> series that I thought it was really funny that it was literally
> represented here.

Potioncat:
I don't think I'd ever realized how much doubt Hermione had. I knew she studied hard, but I thought that was a drive to do well, or to be the best. I didn't pick up on the lack of self confidence.


> Megan:
> See above. And for some reason, it was funny to me that they were all
> disinterestedly regurgitating their history lectures on their exams
> just like muggle kids, in contrast to all the other exotic and
> exciting classes.

Potioncat:
Newsweek recently referred to Professor Binns in an article about how boring history is the way it's taught in schools. I have to smile at all the ways HP has worked its way into our culture.
 I wanted to say more about the exams in PoA, it's a very funny section, but I can't find my book—and long gone is the time I could quote word and page number.


> 
> Megan:
> I picture her as someone who has kind of built her own little world
> in her mind and that's where she lives. It's always kind of jarring
> to her when the other world intrudes.

Potioncat:
What jumped out at me was how much Trelawney is into death and gore and misery. It was very creepy the way she was urging Harry to see blood and pain. I know that she always seems to "see" death in her predictions, but this time her own interest came out. 
Lavender comes out of her exam and says she "saw" lots of things; I imagine Trelawney `directed' her vision similar to the way she tried with Harry, but with Lavender being more receptive.

 
> Megan:
> Yep, at the time I thought it was Sirius, and I never really thought
> back to that part again. Maybe it was Wormtail? He was kind of
> trapped as Scabbers since he'd blow his cover if he changed back.

Potioncat:
A self imposed prison, so to speak? I'm not so sure he "breaks free" as he is cast out. Granted he breaks away from his new captors, but now he has no choice but to go to LV.  And I'm not so sure being a rat was a prison to him. He was warm, safe and well fed. What more did Peter want? Although, he might have enjoyed being around Trelawney. Young Peter seemed to like watching others suffer.

> 
> > 5. Trelawney's first prediction was set in motion by Snape blabbing
> > to LV. What set this one in motion? Will Harry do anything because
> > of or in spite of hearing her words?

 Potioncat now:
In past discussions, many readers have said that it was Snape telling LV about the Prophecy that set it into motion. LV would not have gone after Baby Potter if he hadn't heard the prediction. I don't know that anything in the next series of events sets this one off. Unless we think that IF Harry had really heeded it, he might have let Lupin and Black kill Pettigrew.

> 
> Megan:
> I know it distracted me, and it seemed to at least temporarily
> distract Harry.

Potioncat:
Yes, JKR kept things moving. Before anyone can even think about what the prediction means, there's another adventure going on. And if anything, we think it's Black who had broken free and will rejoin his master.  I'm going to keep this prediction close as we go into the next few chapters, just to see what I think. But the part about LV coming back  "greater and more terrible" will especially bear out.


> Megan:
> I think they were already there.

Potioncat:
Me too, and I love the way JKR wrote these scenes. (Buckbeak death or not)