I believe very strongly that Harry Potter has depth that is elusive in most stories these days. It has characters that are more than ghosts meant to prove a point; it has plot twists not solely for the sake of making us admire the author's wit but to add further uncertainty to our preconceptions of the characters and their actions. Characters have real emotions; they have life-like feelings--legitimate worries. Finally, Rowling isn't above giving us a much needed laugh every once in a while.
One such of those moments happened in Prisoner of Azkaban when Professor Trelawney joins the students and staff for Christmas dinner. Trelawney is a feature in POA largely because of her repeated claims foreboding Harry's death. She is comic relief and insight into the wizarding view of prophecy and divination generally, but this moment is certainly her most hilarious.
We pick up the action as Harry and Ron get up from the table...
"My dears! [exclaimed Trelawney] Which of you left his seat first? Which?"
"Dunno," said Ron, looking uneasily at Harry.
"I doubt it will make much difference," said Professor McGonagall coldly, "unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the Entrance Hall."
"Dunno," said Ron, looking uneasily at Harry.
"I doubt it will make much difference," said Professor McGonagall coldly, "unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the Entrance Hall."
And that, my friends, is Professor Trelawney.
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