Trelawney Predictions That Turned Out True
Professor Trelawney is 90% fraud according to J.K. Rowling. Yet, apart from Professor Trelawney’s two most famous prophecies, there are several of her predictions that did indeed come true, just not always in the way she expected.
Professor Trelawney’s great-great grandmother Cassandra was named for the Cassandra of Greek mythology. Cassandra was blessed by Apollo with foresight but then, when she refused to sleep with him, was cursed by him so that no one would believe her prophecies. Professor Trelawney suffers a similar fate, but with three notable exceptions: Harry Potter, Professor Dumbledore, and Voldemort – all of whom have believed at least one of them.
Apart from the prophecies Trelawney made within an entranced state, she also made several others that could indicate her powers showed themselves with slightly more frequency than once every 15 years…
1.
… the lightning-struck tower… Calamity. Disaster. Coming nearer all the time…” – Professor Trelawney, Half-Blood Prince
This prediction did come to pass when Dumbledore fell from the astronomy tower. This is one of Trelawney’s most notable predictions because she seems to be genuinely shocked, is aware of the importance of the prediction, and is not in a trance.
2.
I — but — but — wait! I… I think I do see something… something that concerns you… Why, I sense something… something dark… some grave peril… I am afraid… I am afraid that you are in grave danger!” – Professor Trelawney, Order of the Phoenix
This is probably the least likely of Trelawney’s predictions to be true, as she was obviously under duress and desperate. Still, that doesn’t change the fact Umbridge really was in grave danger because the school was becoming increasingly antagonistic toward her. In the end, Harry and Hermione had no compunctions about taking Umbridge deep into the Forbidden Forest, where she was traumatized by the centaurs that dwelled there. You can read more about Umbridge here.
3.
I was saying that Saturn was surely in a position of power in the heavens at the moment of your birth… your dark hair… your mean stature… tragic losses so young in life… I think I am right in saying, my dear, that you were born in midwinter?” – Professor Trelawney, Goblet of Fire
We now know Harry was a Horcrux and that Voldemort (who indeed had dark hair, mean stature, and tragic losses young in life) was born on December 31. Was Trelawney sensing the Horcrux?
(NB: As an Australian, this was always a very confusing line because here July is midwinter…)
4.
You are preoccupied, my dear. My Inner Eye sees past your brave face to the troubled soul within. And I regret to say that your worries are not baseless. I see difficult times ahead for you, alas… most difficult… I fear the thing you dread will indeed come to pass… and perhaps sooner than you think.” – Professor Trelawney, Goblet of Fire
Troubled. Soul. Once again, is Trelawney sensing Voldemort’s soul inside Harry? As for there being difficult times ahead – and the thing Harry dreads coming to pass – at the end of that school year, Voldemort came back.
5.
You should know, Potter, that Sybill Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them has died yet.” – Professor McGonagall, Prisoner of Azkaban
It’s very likely all of those students would have died in the Battle of Hogwarts.
6.
And let’s not forget the many, many times Trelawney predicted Harry’s death.
Do you think Trelawney is a fake or a truer seer than even J.K. Rowling realizes? Let us know in the comments!
