purplefluffycat (purplefluffycat) wrote in the_unpopular, @ 2013-07-02 19:04:00 |
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LL: For this week’s special guest feature, we have Sybill Patricia Trelawney joining us – respected Professor of Divination at Hogwarts, and celebrated Seer. Professor, thank you for coming, at what must be a busy time of year, preparing for the first new intake after the war.
SPT: Thank you, Miss Lovegood. I’m delighted – though you understand I must keep appearances such as these to a minimum, lest they interfere with my Gift. It is difficult enough to pry oneself away from the workings of the Inner Eye to teach, but I cannot think of anything more worthy than inspiring the next generation of Seers - so for that I am happy to make the sacrifice.
LL: Speaking of generations, it’s well known, Professor, that you are related to the legendary Cassandra Trelawney. Could you tell us a little more about your relationship with her, and how that has affected your career?
SPT: Ah yes, Cassandra! I commune with her every day. Ordinary witches and wizards cannot reach beyond the Veil, of course, but she and I have a special understanding. She is with me when I foretell, and it is her Gift and mine combined that speak through me. Therefore, her prophecies were great, but mine are greater still – the confluence of generations together walking the earth...
LL: So when did you first realise you had the Sight?
SPT: I think it was apparent from the day I was born. My dear parents recognised they had a Gifted child, because I showed magic from a very early age, indeed. Prophesying came naturally, too – I was showing them the future before I was old enough to speak. But, realising what a rare and delicate Gift it was, they made the very sensible decision to keep the news to themselves, and thus protect me from the intrusion of the outside world.
LL: But you came to prominence only recently, when it was revealed that as a young adult, you made the famous Prophecy concerning Harry Potter and the Dark Lord. Could you tell us about that night?
SPT: It was the most intense communion with the Sight that I have ever experienced; truly transcendental. I knew at the time, when the Truth was coming to me,that this foretelling was going to be very special indeed. And then, afterwards, it was clear that I had been Chosen – something that my dear parents had suspected all along, of course. Cassandra herself, and the gods, had decided that I was the one worthy of delivering the great news to this mortal coil!
Of course, I’m very modest about it. No-one knew for years that it was me; I just prefer to keep all of my staggering achievements private.
LL: Yes, that would certainly seem to be the case. Our readers may wonder whether such a tendency to seclusion may explain this surprising statistic: according to Ministry records, by your current age – which I shall not, of course, disclose here – Cassandra Trelawney had made ninety-eight official Prophecies. According to the same records, you, Professor, have made... two.all the time.
SPT: I’m making Prophecies all the time! Literally
LL: Ok, then, I think we can all agree that the Ministry has had a chequered history of late! But the institution to which you must have rather more loyalty, Professor, is of course Hogwarts. Having now taught there for eighteen years, could you tell us how the school has changed over your time, and how the four Headteachers under whom you have served have each left their mark?
SPT: Albus Dumbledore was undoubtedly the greatest; he recognised my Gift from the moment we first met. He was an astounding wizard, and also a man who led with insight and kindness, never interfering in the work of a fellow expert - such as myself. We all miss him very much. Among other things, Professor Dumbledore was remarkably astute with the deployment of the castle - he gave me my lovely Divination tower, for example - and thus clearly recognised the needs of those blessed with special talents.
Minerva McGonagall is... a competent deputy, to be sure. Workman-like, if you will, but - just between us - perhaps not the sharpest crayon in the box. She has no appreciation for the Art and Science of Divination, for example. Indeed, she recently suggested that my subject be downgraded from core curriculum to a mere after-class activity! It's a preposterous idea, of course, and I will fight it tooth and nail!
LL: And how about the controversial fourth and fifth? I refer of course to the period of turmoil in which Dolores Umbridge, war criminal, assumed control of the school, and to the darkly heroic Headmastership of Professor Snape.
SPT: The less said about the former, the better, I daresay! The only unfortunate hang-over from that is that we still have a Centaur occupying a teaching position at Hogwarts...
As to the latter, it was clearly a very difficult time for most of us. I remember little from that year; in times of stress, those of us in possession of the Sight often retreat from the material world, and commune even more strongly with the spirits...
LL: By 'spirits', do you mean 'sherry', by any chance? Some people have reported, Professor, that you might have been turning to drink, in the stress of the war...
SPT: Nonsense! I am far too strong and stable for such a thing!
LL: Well, that brings us to the end of today’s interview. But may I say, Professor? - What a pretty shawl.
SPT: Thank you!