Books

Did Trelawney Actually Predict Dumbledore's Death?

by Julia Seales

OK, so we all know that Sybil Trelawney was a little bit crazy. It often seemed that her “predictions” were really just based on a moment’s whim or the ravings of a very paranoid drama queen. However, as a lot of fans have pointed out, these “predictions” often actually came true.

Of course, it was revealed that Trelawney actually could make prophecies, though she didn’t remember them after the fact. But one of her more dramatic predictions might actually have some truth in it. And it all comes down to numbers.

As we know, numbers are incredibly significant in Harry Potter. Usually, it’s the number seven that gets all the attention (seven books, seven horcruxes, etc.). But this time, 13 is the important number. According to this fan theory, Trelawney made a macabre prediction in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban that actually came true:

At Christmas there were only 12 people around the dinner table. Trelawney comes along and Dumbledore stands up to draw her a chair. She freaks out, I must not! When 13 people dine together, the first to rise is the first to die!!! Except. Ron had Scabbers in his pocket. Which means that there [weren’t] 12 people when Trelawney arrived. There [were] already 13. And Dumbledore stood up.

WHAAAAT.

These were the people at the table: Professors Dumbledore, Mcgonagall, Snape, Sprout, Flitwick, as well as Filch, two first-years, and a Slytherin fifth-year. Harry, Ron, and Hermione (and Scabbers) join them. Unless one of the first-years or the Slytherin died prematurely, it’s safe to say that Trelawney’s prediction did come true.

And not only does this instance of 13’s significance occur. There are some other crazy happenings with this number. Voldemort’s wand is 13 and a half inches. Sirius Black was convicted of murdering 13 people. Voldemort didn’t have a body for 13 years. The next time 13 people were seated (in the Weasley’s living room, after Moody died), Remus Lupin was the first to rise. And the first to die.

And this theory of Trelawney’s? It occurs in the third book, aka when Harry and friends are — you guess it — 13 years old.

Mind. Blown.

Images: Warner Bros, Giphy (3)