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

[willsonteam]

No: HPFGUIDX 190204

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> Alla:
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> Oh, good question, you know what the funny thing is? I am still not completely sure. I mean, we know that she was not writing a complete fraud, thats for sure and I think based on Half Blood Prince as well she is also someone who really wants to be taken seriously in her profession. Come to think of it, I think she and Hermione have it in common. 

Potioncat:
Oddly enough, something Trelawney said to Harry made me begin to wonder about the fraud part. I've always thought she was sincere yet insecure in her craft--and not particularly good at it. But when Harry tells her she just made a prediction about LV, she says something alon the lines of "I wouldn't be so bold as to make that sort of prediction..." (sorry, am not at home, no book.) The wording made me think she "made up predictions" on a regular basis.
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> Alla:
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> I totally thought it was about Sirius Black when I read it at first. Hm, "chained these twelve years", I thought at the end that it meant Peter chained by his rat's body, metaphorically speaking? I did not realize there is other interpretation? I mean, I would love to know it, this one just feels obvious?

Potioncat:
Someone pointed out that Peter was chained to his alias since he had no way of safely becoming Peter again. So, while it's a stretch, he is freed from his bondage to his animagus form (I almost said animorph form, any one here read those books?) Predictions and prophecies generally ride on stretches of meaning. Coward that he is, he would never leave that "prison" without good reason. As I said before, it was a very comfortable prison.
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> Alla:
 
> So, it is not like her prediction helps him to think that oh, I will do something right now, or that old hack knows nothing, let me ignore her anyway. it felt to me that he pretty much ignored the prediction afterwards, since he was too occupied by Buckbeak's execution. So I suppose Buckbeak's plight set the wheels in motion, I would say?

Potioncat:
I don't suppose every Potterverse prophecy has to work in the same way. I don't see that any action on Harry's part set it in motion. It's just that The Prophecy generated so much discussion--granted the plot hinged on it---but we rarely look at this one.
This prediction says the servant will help LV become greater and more terrible than before; should Harry have done anything differently? DD gets a lot of flack from readers because he didn't stop Snape from telling LV The Prophecy.  Harry allowing Peter to live and then Peter's escaping did permit LV to gain strength.
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> Alla:
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> I would say yes, it would feel less foreshadowed when we go back and reread.

Potioncat: In retrospect this prediction also explains why reborn LV seems so different than his reputation. He's grown more evil and less sane over the years--and this last transformation took him even farther along.
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