Chapter Sixteen: Professor Trelawney’s Prediction
In chapter sixteen of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Harry and Ron whine about their magic homework, Buckbeak is executed, and Professor Trelawney makes a real prediction.
(Please be advised that this is a reread and I will be discussing book and movie spoilers.)
Harry’s still high from his win when we open our chapter, until the reality of exams set in and look, as much as she tries, J.K. Rowling cannot incite much sympathy in me for people complaining about having to study for their magic exams.
Boo-Hoo poor you guys, now learn economics and calculus and be forced to sweat in gym class and get back to me with your whinging!
Lupin’s created the best exam of course because Remus is a werewolf king amongst lesser, greasier professors, and we find out Hermione’s boggart is Professor McGonagall telling her she’s failed all of her exams, and not, say, McGonagall threatening her with a murder detention.
Harry rocks the shit out of his exam and then runs into Cornelius Fudge and McNair, Lucius Malfoy lackey and also man carrying a giant axe around a school for children. Even though the appeal for Buckbeak hasn’t happened yet it doesn’t look good and again, why is there a man carrying a giant axe around a school for children? Why are they intending on executing an animal at a school for children?
Ron and Harry suffer through an exam with Trelawney, and again, I’m not quite sure why they complain about it since it seems like all you have to do is lie your ass off with something you know Trelawney would like. Come on, Harry, just pretend you see your imminent death by Grim!
So Harry tries to pass by lying and says he sees Buckbeak flying away, entirely whole and head intact, which disappoints Trelawney because she’s a damn ghoul about misery. Of course, Harry turns out to be correct, so I do wonder if Trelawney didn’t give him highest marks after his “prediction” turned out to be entirely accurate. Professor Drama Queen then proceeds to have a real vision about Lord Voldemort and his servant, and seems to have no memory of it.
Harry runs off to tell his friends and Ron tell him that Buckbeak is to be executed and being the incredible humans our trio are, they sneak out of school to comfort Hagrid until it’s time. But, surprise!
It’s Scabbers!
They don’t have time to wonder what’s going on, because the Minister and co are here to execute Buckbeak (does Cornelius Fudge have nothing better to do, just wondering) and our trio’s got to go.
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Would you complain about exams if you attended a school for magic?
Why are they executing Buckbeak at school?
Do you think Trelawney retroactively gives Harry an “O” on his exam?
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