what is a prophecy in harry potter

In the Harry Potter series, there are several prophecies that play a significant role in the story. The most notable one is the prophecy made by Sybill Trelawney, a Divination professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The prophecy states that:

“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches … Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies … And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not … And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives … The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies …”

This prophecy is about Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort, and it sets up the central conflict of the series. Voldemort believes that the prophecy refers to Harry and sets out to kill him, while Harry, with the help of his friends, works to defeat Voldemort and fulfill the prophecy. Other prophecies are also mentioned in the series, such as the prophecy about the “Chosen One” and the prophecy about the “heir of Slytherin,” but the main one is the prophecy about Harry and Voldemort.

Who told Voldemort the prophecy?

In the Harry Potter series, it is revealed that the prophecy was made by Sybill Trelawney, a professor of Divination at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Trelawney made the prophecy during a job interview with Albus Dumbledore at the Hog’s Head Inn in Hogsmeade. Dumbledore was the only person who heard the full contents of the prophecy, and he did not reveal it to anyone else.

However, Voldemort had a spy at Hogwarts named Severus Snape, who overheard part of the prophecy when Trelawney made it. Snape relayed what he heard to Voldemort, and Voldemort became fixated on the prophecy, believing that it referred to Harry Potter and that Harry was the only one who could defeat him. This led Voldemort to target Harry and his parents, ultimately resulting in the events of the series.

It is worth noting that Snape later regretted his role in relaying the prophecy to Voldemort and became a key ally in the fight against Voldemort.

Why did Voldemort want the prophecy?

In the Harry Potter series, Voldemort wanted the prophecy that was made about him and Harry Potter because he believed it contained crucial information that could help him defeat Harry and maintain his power. The prophecy foretold that a child born at the end of July to parents who had defied Voldemort three times would have the power to defeat him. Voldemort believed that this child was Harry Potter, and he wanted to hear the rest of the prophecy to know what kind of threat Harry posed to him and how to eliminate it.

Voldemort sent his Death Eaters to retrieve the prophecy from the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic. However, in doing so, he inadvertently set in motion a chain of events that ultimately led to his downfall. Harry and his friends, who had been alerted to the danger of the prophecy, went to the Ministry to stop Voldemort’s Death Eaters from getting it. They ended up in a battle with the Death Eaters, and in the end, Voldemort himself arrived. During the ensuing fight, the prophecy was destroyed, meaning that Voldemort never learned the full contents of the prophecy.

Ultimately, Voldemort’s obsession with the prophecy led to his downfall, as his desire to obtain it drove him to make a series of mistakes and miscalculations that ultimately led to his defeat.

What does Harry Potter’s prophecy mean?

The prophecy in Harry Potter refers to a prophecy made by Sybill Trelawney, a Divination professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The prophecy states that:

The “one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord” refers to Harry Potter, who was born at the end of July to parents who had defied Lord Voldemort three times. Voldemort marks Harry as his equal when he gives Harry his scar, and Harry ultimately defeats Voldemort by using the power that Voldemort does not understand: the power of love.

The last part of the prophecy states that either Harry or Voldemort must die at the hand of the other, as neither can live while the other survives. This sets up the final battle between Harry and Voldemort, which takes place at the end of the series.

Overall, the prophecy is significant because it sets up the central conflict of the series and provides a framework for the events that unfold. It also highlights the theme of the power of love, which is a key element in Harry’s victory over Voldemort.