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{{Class infobox
  
{{Class infobox
 
|name=Divination
  
|name=Divination
−
|image=Third year Divination.jpg‎
 +
|image=Trelawney's first Divination lesson in the trio's third year.jpg
 
|professor=*[[Sybill Trelawney]]
  
|professor=*[[Sybill Trelawney]]
 
*[[Firenze]] {{c|formerly}}
  
*[[Firenze]] {{c|formerly}}
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*[[Parchment]]
  
*[[Parchment]]
 
*[[Quill]]
  
*[[Quill]]
−
*Crystal Balls
 +
*[[Crystal ball]]s
 
*Teacups and tea leaves
  
*Teacups and tea leaves
 
*Burning materials
  
*Burning materials
 
}}
  
}}
 
{{Quote|So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you. Books can take you only so far in this field...|[[Sybill Trelawney]] talking to the class about Divination|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
  
{{Quote|So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you. Books can take you only so far in this field...|[[Sybill Trelawney]] talking to the class about Divination|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
−  
 
'''Divination''' is an elective course taught at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. It teaches methods of divining the future, or gathering insights into future events, through various rituals and tools. The magic taught in this class, as well as the ability to say prophetic things is a branch of magic referred to as "''Divination''."
  
'''Divination''' is an elective course taught at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. It teaches methods of divining the future, or gathering insights into future events, through various rituals and tools. The magic taught in this class, as well as the ability to say prophetic things is a branch of magic referred to as "''Divination''."
   
−
[[Headmaster]] [[Albus Dumbledore]] had originally decided that this course should no longer be taught at Hogwarts, it being considered obscure and inaccurate to most. However, seeing the applicant for the teaching post was the famous great-great-granddaughter of a [[Cassandra Trelawney|celebrated Seer]], Dumbledore decided to give her a chance. When she made a [[Prophecy]] that impressed Dumbledore, she was granted the position (though the true reason was to protect her from [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], who was desperate to hear the rest of the prophecy).
 +
[[Headmaster]] [[Albus Dumbledore]] had originally decided that this course should no longer be taught at Hogwarts, it being considered obscure and inaccurate to most. However, seeing the applicant for the teaching post, [[Sybill Trelawney]], was the famous great-great-granddaughter of the celebrated [[Seer]] [[Cassandra Trelawney]], Dumbledore decided to give her a chance. When she made a [[Prophecy]] that impressed Dumbledore, she was granted the position (though the true reason was to protect her from [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], who was desperate to hear the rest of the prophecy).
   
 
==Class information==
  
==Class information==
 
[[File:Divination_class.jpg|250px|thumb|Some of the [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] students attending Divination class in [[1995]]]]
  
[[File:Divination_class.jpg|250px|thumb|Some of the [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] students attending Divination class in [[1995]]]]
  +
 
{{Quote|Broaden your minds, my dears, and allow your eyes to see past the mundane!|[[Sybill Trelawney]] to a Divination class|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
  
{{Quote|Broaden your minds, my dears, and allow your eyes to see past the mundane!|[[Sybill Trelawney]] to a Divination class|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
   
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[[File:DivinationHarryRon.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Harry Potter and Ron Weasley bored in Divination class]]
  
[[File:DivinationHarryRon.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Harry Potter and Ron Weasley bored in Divination class]]
−
Some students, such as [[Percy Weasley]], thought the subject very useful, especially when thinking about the future,<ref>{{COS|B|14}} </ref> while others, such as [[Trio|the Trio]], could not achieve any success in this course, and regretted ever taking it. [[Hermione Granger]] eventually dropped the class, while [[Harry Potter]] and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], in order to scrape a pass in the course, merely made up plenty of things when it comes to predicting the future, not taking the work seriously. They usually added plenty of tragedies, so Professor Trelawney would be satisfied, despite the false predictions could be far-fetched. They would also make fun out of the class whenever possible, as when Ron saw nothing but thick white swirl in the crystal ball, he joked about foreseeing a very foggy night, to which his friends laughed.
 +
Some students, such as [[Percy Weasley]], thought the subject very useful, especially when thinking about the future,<ref>{{COS|B|14}}</ref> while others, such as [[Trio|the Trio]], could not achieve any success in this course, and regretted ever taking it. [[Hermione Granger]] eventually dropped the class, while [[Harry Potter]] and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], in order to scrape a pass in the course, merely made up plenty of things when it comes to predicting the future, not taking the work seriously. They usually added plenty of tragedies, so Professor Trelawney would be satisfied, despite the false predictions could be far-fetched. They would also make fun out of the class whenever possible, as when Ron saw nothing but thick white swirl in the crystal ball, he joked about foreseeing a very foggy night, to which his friends laughed. Due to lack of interest leading to poor efforts, Harry was among the known students to have failed his Divination [[Ordinary Wizarding Level|O.W.L.]], and ceased taking any advanced studies.
  +
  +
[[Hermione Granger]] had great difficulty with Divination because it is not exact and "woolly," and she developed a disdain for the subject because it a subject in which studying and books cannot help if one lacks the natural ability. She quit the subject after Professor Trelawney told her she lacked the talent, which allowed her to return her [[Time-Turner]] and focus more on [[Study of Ancient Runes|Ancient Runes]] and [[Arithmancy (class)|Arithmancy]]. [[Minerva McGonagall]] shared Hermione's scepticism and her personal dislike for Professor Trelawney, whom McGonagall believed to be a fraud.<ref name="POA6">{{POA|B|6}}</ref> Albus Dumbledore also never took this subject himself.<ref name="HBP20">{{HBP|B|20}}</ref>
  +
  +
There is also a [[Divination homework meeting]] club, in which Divination students can study the subject together. Several [[fifth year]] students attended this group during the [[1995–1996 school year]].<ref name="OOTPG">{{OOTP|G}}</ref>
   
 
==Class location==
  
==Class location==
 
Students of this class convene in one of two places: [[Sybill Trelawney]]'s [[Divination Classroom|classroom]] in the [[North Tower]], or [[Classroom Eleven]] where [[Firenze]] taught, which is on the ground floor of the castle.
  
Students of this class convene in one of two places: [[Sybill Trelawney]]'s [[Divination Classroom|classroom]] in the [[North Tower]], or [[Classroom Eleven]] where [[Firenze]] taught, which is on the ground floor of the castle.
   
−
The classroom located in the North Tower is accessible through a circular trapdoor. The room is described as looking like a cross between somebody's attic and an old-fashioned teashop. The [[Divination Stairwell]] leads to this classroom, connected to the rest of the castle by a [[Divination corridor|long corridor]].
 +
The classroom located in the North Tower is accessible through a circular trapdoor. The room is described as looking like a cross between somebody's attic and an old-fashioned tea shop. The [[Divination Stairwell]] leads to this classroom, connected to the rest of the castle by a [[Divination corridor|long corridor]].
 
==Curriculum==
  
==Curriculum==
 
{|
  
{|
 
|
  
|
 
*[[Astrology]]
  
*[[Astrology]]
−
*[[Crystal-gazing]]<ref>{{POA|B|15}}</ref>
 +
*[[Crystal-gazing]]<ref name="POA15">{{POA|B|15}}</ref>
⚫
*[[Heptomology]]<ref name="ootp25">{{OOTP|B|25}}</ref>
  
 
|
  
|
  ⚫
*[[Heptomology]]<ref name="ootp25">{{OOTP|B|25}}</ref>
 
*[[Ornithomancy]]<ref name="ootp25"/>
  
*[[Ornithomancy]]<ref name="ootp25"/>
  +
|
−
*[[Palmistry]]<ref>{{POA|B|12}}</ref>
 +
*[[Palmistry]]<ref name="POA12">{{POA|B|12}}</ref>
−
*[[Tessomancy]]
 +
*[[Tessomancy]]<ref name="POA6"/>
 
|}
  
|}
 
==Known professors==
  
==Known professors==
−
{{cleanup}}
  
 
<!-- Why is the "Known professors" section treated as such? None of the other subject articles are like this, and their respective backstories are quite irrelevant to the class itself as a whole. Will leave this message for a month, then incorporate relevant info to the "Class information" section. -->
  
<!-- Why is the "Known professors" section treated as such? None of the other subject articles are like this, and their respective backstories are quite irrelevant to the class itself as a whole. Will leave this message for a month, then incorporate relevant info to the "Class information" section. -->
 
===Sybill Trelawney===
  
===Sybill Trelawney===
−
{{Dialogue a-b|Sybill Trelawney|The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practise.|Hermione Granger|Well honestly...'the fates have informed her'... Who sets the exam? She does!|Professor Trelawney and [[Hermione Granger]] in Divination|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
 +
{{Dialogue a-b|Sybill Trelawney|The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practise.|Hermione Granger|Well honestly...'the fates have informed her'... Who sets the exam? She does!|Professor Trelawney and [[Hermione Granger]] in Divination|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}[[File:Sybill Trelawney.JPG|200px|thumb|left|[[Sybill Trelawney|Professor Sybill Trelawney]]]]
−
[[File:Sybill Trelawney.JPG|200px|thumb|left|[[Sybill Trelawney|Professor Sybill Trelawney]]]]
  
   
 
[[Albus Dumbledore]] hired [[Sybill Trelawney]] to become the Divination teacher circa [[1979]]. Originally, Dumbledore plotted to scrap the subject altogether, and only gave Sybill an interview for the sake of her esteemed heritage. To his disappointment, she showed none of the prestige her [[Cassandra Trelawney|celebrated ancestor]] did. As he was prepared to let her down gently, Trelawney entered a trance and made [[Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy|a prophecy]] regarding to [[Voldemort's Last Stand|the Dark Lord's downfall]]. Dumbledore immediately hired her, mostly to protect her from the [[Tom Riddle|Dark Lord]], but also in hopes of hearing another genuine prophecy. Sybill, however, did not know this, due to the trance she was in.
  
[[Albus Dumbledore]] hired [[Sybill Trelawney]] to become the Divination teacher circa [[1979]]. Originally, Dumbledore plotted to scrap the subject altogether, and only gave Sybill an interview for the sake of her esteemed heritage. To his disappointment, she showed none of the prestige her [[Cassandra Trelawney|celebrated ancestor]] did. As he was prepared to let her down gently, Trelawney entered a trance and made [[Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy|a prophecy]] regarding to [[Voldemort's Last Stand|the Dark Lord's downfall]]. Dumbledore immediately hired her, mostly to protect her from the [[Tom Riddle|Dark Lord]], but also in hopes of hearing another genuine prophecy. Sybill, however, did not know this, due to the trance she was in.
   
−
Sybill then began teaching Divination circa 1979, and was still teaching until [[1998]]. Her beginner's class relied heavily on the art of {{w|scrying}},{{fact}} however, Trelawney's teaching style did not go over well with most students. Only students [[Lavender Brown]] and [[Parvati Patil]] seemed to really take to the subject. Others fell asleep in her heavily-incensed and stifling classroom or considered the class to be a joke. [[Hermione Granger]] decided to quit the class for good, as Trelawney told her that she had not the Inner Eye, and because she thought Trelawney's predictions were inaccurate, and the few accurate ones are due to mere chance. Not many students liked her because they thought she was mad.
 +
Sybill then began teaching Divination circa 1979, and was still teaching until [[1998]]. Her beginner's class relied heavily on the art of {{w|scrying}}, however, Trelawney's teaching style did not go over well with most students. Only students [[Lavender Brown]] and [[Parvati Patil]] seemed to really take to the subject. Others fell asleep in her heavily-incensed and stifling classroom or considered the class to be a joke. [[Hermione Granger]] decided to quit the class for good, as Trelawney told her that she had not the Inner Eye, and because she thought Trelawney's predictions were inaccurate, and the few accurate ones are due to mere chance. Not many students liked her because they thought she was mad.
   
 
While her lessons were relatively safe, Professor Trelawney was renowned for predicting the death of a student each year. These prophecies never came true, although Lavender Brown's did find out that her pet rabbit had died on the predetermined date Professor Trelawney dictated on her first day of class. Also, she had predicted that [[Neville Longbottom]] would break a cup from her china tea set.
  
While her lessons were relatively safe, Professor Trelawney was renowned for predicting the death of a student each year. These prophecies never came true, although Lavender Brown's did find out that her pet rabbit had died on the predetermined date Professor Trelawney dictated on her first day of class. Also, she had predicted that [[Neville Longbottom]] would break a cup from her china tea set.
Line 70: Line 73:
 
==Required textbooks==
  
==Required textbooks==
 
<gallery widths="105" orientation="portrait" spacing="large">
  
<gallery widths="105" orientation="portrait" spacing="large">
−
DO.png|''[[The Dream Oracle]]'' by [[Inigo Imago]]
 +
The Dream Oracle.png|''[[The Dream Oracle]]'' by [[Inigo Imago]]
 
Future-lrg.png|''[[Unfogging the Future]]'' by [[Cassandra Vablatsky]]
  
Future-lrg.png|''[[Unfogging the Future]]'' by [[Cassandra Vablatsky]]
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
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==Known O.W.L.s==
  
==Known O.W.L.s==
 
<gallery widths="105" orientation="portrait" spacing="small" position="center">
  
<gallery widths="105" orientation="portrait" spacing="small" position="center">
−
Barty Crouch, Jr.jpg|[[Bartemius Crouch Junior|Barty Crouch Jr]] †
 +
Lavender Brown 1997.jpg|[[Lavender Brown]] †
⚫
DH promo headshot Bill Weasley.jpg|[[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]]
  
−
Lavender-Brown 1997.jpg|[[Lavender Brown]] †
  
 
Parvati patil.PNG|[[Parvati Patil]]
  
Parvati patil.PNG|[[Parvati Patil]]
−
Percy.jpg|[[Percy Weasley]]
  
 
Sybill Trelawney.JPG|[[Sybill Trelawney]]
  
Sybill Trelawney.JPG|[[Sybill Trelawney]]
  +
Nymphadora Tonks DH promo headshot .jpg|[[Nymphadora Tonks]]<ref name="HM6"/>
  ⚫
DH_promo_headshot_Bill_Weasley.jpg|[[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]]
  +
Ismelda Murk HM.jpg|[[Ismelda Murk]]<ref name="HM6"/>
  +
Chiara Lobosca.png|[[Chiara Lobosca]]<ref name="HM6"/>
  +
Talbott Winger - HM.png|[[Talbott Winger]]<ref name="HM6"/>
  +
HM friendships Barnaby Lee.png|[[Barnaby Lee]]<ref name="HM6"/>
  +
Jae kim.jpeg|[[Jae Kim]]<ref name="HM6"/>
  +
Badeea Ali.jpeg|[[Badeea Ali]]<ref name="HM6"/>
  +
Liz Tuttle - Hogwarts Mystery.png|[[Liz Tuttle]]<ref name="HM6"/>
  +
File:Jacob's sibling generic.png|[[Jacob's sibling]]<ref name="HM6">{{HM|6|2}}</ref>
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
  +
  ⚫
==See also==
  ⚫
*[[Tarot cards]]
  ⚫
*[[Divination]]
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
  
==Behind the scenes==
−
*Because the subtle science of Divination is not exact, and "''woolly''", [[Hermione Granger]] had great difficulty with and disdain for it. After consulting with Professor [[Minerva McGonagall]], who shared Hermione's scepticism for Divination, and then being insulted by Professor Trelawney about how she lacked the requirements for Divination, Hermione dropped out of the class altogether with dramatic flair to concentrate on [[Study of Ancient Runes|Ancient Runes]] and [[Arithmancy (class)|Arithmancy]], also so she could have less time using her [[Time-Turner]].<!-- relocated to BTS because this is personal to one particular character, a far cry from being relevant to the general "Class information" -->
  
−
**Divination is said to be a subject in which the books cannot help so much. It may have contribuited to the total Hermione's contempt for it.<ref>{{POA|B|6}}</ref>
  
 
*Interestingly, when Harry and Ron made up predictions in their Divination homework,<ref>{{GOF|B|14}}</ref> they happened to predict, exactly, the dangers that awaited Harry in the [[Triwizard Tournament]]:
  
*Interestingly, when Harry and Ron made up predictions in their Divination homework,<ref>{{GOF|B|14}}</ref> they happened to predict, exactly, the dangers that awaited Harry in the [[Triwizard Tournament]]:
 
*#He will be "''in danger of burns''" (the first task of overcoming a [[dragon]])
  
*#He will be "''in danger of burns''" (the first task of overcoming a [[dragon]])
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*Similarly, whilst they are making up predictions, Ron and Harry "foresee" that Harry will lose his bet that Ron will win his fight (which he supposedly came off worse in). This also comes true (more or less) again with respect to the Triwizard tournament as it is later revealed that [[Ludovic Bagman|Ludo Bagman]] lost his bet that Harry would win the Triwizard tournament outright (which culminated in Harry coming off worse). They also claim they will drown, which nearly happens in the Second Task.
  
*Similarly, whilst they are making up predictions, Ron and Harry "foresee" that Harry will lose his bet that Ron will win his fight (which he supposedly came off worse in). This also comes true (more or less) again with respect to the Triwizard tournament as it is later revealed that [[Ludovic Bagman|Ludo Bagman]] lost his bet that Harry would win the Triwizard tournament outright (which culminated in Harry coming off worse). They also claim they will drown, which nearly happens in the Second Task.
 
*Given the above (as well as the nature of [[Sybill Trelawney]]'s gift) it may be that - with respect to the art of Divination - true talent does not lie in making accurate predictions, but in ''recognising'' that they have been made.
  
*Given the above (as well as the nature of [[Sybill Trelawney]]'s gift) it may be that - with respect to the art of Divination - true talent does not lie in making accurate predictions, but in ''recognising'' that they have been made.
  ⚫
*[[J. K. Rowling]] originally devised Divination to be compulsory from the first year.<ref name="Pottermore">{{WW|hogwarts-school-subjects}}</ref>
−
*Harry and several of his classmates attended [[Divination homework meeting]]s in the [[1995–1996 school year]].{{fact}}
  
  ⚫
*[[Draco Malfoy]], [[Vincent Crabbe]], [[Gregory Goyle]] and [[Pansy Parkinson]] were never mentioned to have taken the subject in the books, but they can be seen during the Divination scenes in the {{OOTP|FA}}, despite they were not shown taking the subject in {{POA|FA}}.
−
*Albus Dumbledore never took this subject himself.<ref name="HBP20">{{HBP|B|20}}</ref>
  
  ⚫
*It is possible that Divination only has an [[Ordinary Wizarding Level|O.W.L.]] exam, as [[Sybill Trelawney]] says that passing the exam is not primarily necessary to gain more insights and/or to improve the [[Inner Eye]]. Therefore, it might be that, like at [[Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] in general, Divination is offered as an extra-curricular class in the sixth and seventh year, including [[Xylomancy]]. Hence, the statement of the latter being an 'often overlooked' type of Divination.
⚫
*[[J. K. Rowling]] originally devised Divination to be compulsory from the first year.<ref name="Pottermore">{{PM|hogwarts-school-subjects}}</ref>
  
⚫
*[[Draco Malfoy]], [[Vincent Crabbe]] and [[Gregory Goyle]] were never mentioned to have taken the subject in the books, but they can be seen during the Divination scenes in the {{OOTP|FA}}, despite they were not shown taking the subject in {{POA|FA}}.
  
⚫
*It is possible that Divination only has an [[Ordinary Wizarding Level|O.W.L.]] exam, as [[Sybill Trelawney]] says that passing the exam is not primarily neccessary to gain more insights and/or to improve the [[Inner Eye]]. Therefore, it might be that, like at [[Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] in general, Divination is offered as an extra-curricular class in the sixth and seventh year, including [[Xylomancy]]. Hence, the statement of the latter being an 'often overlooked' type of Divination.
  
−  
⚫
==See also==
  
⚫
*[[Tarot cards]]
  
⚫
*[[Divination]]
  
   
 
==Appearances==
  
==Appearances==
−
*{{POA}}
 +
*{{POA}} {{1st}}
 
*{{POA|F}}
  
*{{POA|F}}
 
*{{GOF}}
  
*{{GOF}}
Line 131: Line 137:
 
*{{HPV|CH}} {{Mention}}
  
*{{HPV|CH}} {{Mention}}
 
*{{HPV|CR}} {{Mention}}
  
*{{HPV|CR}} {{Mention}}
−
*{{HM}} {{Mention}}
 +
*{{HM}}
   
 
==Notes and references==
  
==Notes and references==

Revision as of 07:49, 29 June 2020

LogoHarryPotterHogwartsMystery Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. Spoilers will be present within the article.

"Point me!"
This article is about the subject taught in wizarding schools. You may be looking for the magical discipline.

"So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you. Books can take you only so far in this field..."
— Sybill Trelawney talking to the class about Divination[src]

Divination is an elective course taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It teaches methods of divining the future, or gathering insights into future events, through various rituals and tools. The magic taught in this class, as well as the ability to say prophetic things is a branch of magic referred to as "Divination."

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore had originally decided that this course should no longer be taught at Hogwarts, it being considered obscure and inaccurate to most. However, seeing the applicant for the teaching post, Sybill Trelawney, was the famous great-great-granddaughter of the celebrated Seer Cassandra Trelawney, Dumbledore decided to give her a chance. When she made a Prophecy that impressed Dumbledore, she was granted the position (though the true reason was to protect her from Lord Voldemort, who was desperate to hear the rest of the prophecy).

Class information

Divination class

Some of the Hogwarts students attending Divination class in 1995

"Broaden your minds, my dears, and allow your eyes to see past the mundane!"
— Sybill Trelawney to a Divination class[src]

Divination is an elective subject available beginning in a student's third year. Students study a myriad of ways to scry information about the future, including tea dregs, crystal balls, visions, and Astrology and horoscope charts. Other methods of divining the future include smoke patterns, dreams, tarot cards, and the interpretation of prophecies, though the latter is quite rare. Guides and textbooks allow students of Divination to discern or translate what observed symbols intend to mean.

DivinationHarryRon

Harry Potter and Ron Weasley bored in Divination class

Some students, such as Percy Weasley, thought the subject very useful, especially when thinking about the future,[1] while others, such as the Trio, could not achieve any success in this course, and regretted ever taking it. Hermione Granger eventually dropped the class, while Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, in order to scrape a pass in the course, merely made up plenty of things when it comes to predicting the future, not taking the work seriously. They usually added plenty of tragedies, so Professor Trelawney would be satisfied, despite the false predictions could be far-fetched. They would also make fun out of the class whenever possible, as when Ron saw nothing but thick white swirl in the crystal ball, he joked about foreseeing a very foggy night, to which his friends laughed. Due to lack of interest leading to poor efforts, Harry was among the known students to have failed his Divination O.W.L., and ceased taking any advanced studies.

Hermione Granger had great difficulty with Divination because it is not exact and "woolly," and she developed a disdain for the subject because it a subject in which studying and books cannot help if one lacks the natural ability. She quit the subject after Professor Trelawney told her she lacked the talent, which allowed her to return her Time-Turner and focus more on Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. Minerva McGonagall shared Hermione's scepticism and her personal dislike for Professor Trelawney, whom McGonagall believed to be a fraud.[2] Albus Dumbledore also never took this subject himself.[3]

There is also a Divination homework meeting club, in which Divination students can study the subject together. Several fifth year students attended this group during the 1995–1996 school year.[4]

Class location

Students of this class convene in one of two places: Sybill Trelawney's classroom in the North Tower, or Classroom Eleven where Firenze taught, which is on the ground floor of the castle.

The classroom located in the North Tower is accessible through a circular trapdoor. The room is described as looking like a cross between somebody's attic and an old-fashioned tea shop. The Divination Stairwell leads to this classroom, connected to the rest of the castle by a long corridor.

Curriculum

Known professors

Sybill Trelawney

Sybill Trelawney: "The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practise."
Hermione Granger: "Well honestly...'the fates have informed her'... Who sets the exam? She does!"
— Professor Trelawney and Hermione Granger in Divination[src]
Sybill Trelawney

Professor Sybill Trelawney

Albus Dumbledore hired Sybill Trelawney to become the Divination teacher circa 1979. Originally, Dumbledore plotted to scrap the subject altogether, and only gave Sybill an interview for the sake of her esteemed heritage. To his disappointment, she showed none of the prestige her celebrated ancestor did. As he was prepared to let her down gently, Trelawney entered a trance and made a prophecy regarding to the Dark Lord's downfall. Dumbledore immediately hired her, mostly to protect her from the Dark Lord, but also in hopes of hearing another genuine prophecy. Sybill, however, did not know this, due to the trance she was in.

Sybill then began teaching Divination circa 1979, and was still teaching until 1998. Her beginner's class relied heavily on the art of scrying, however, Trelawney's teaching style did not go over well with most students. Only students Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil seemed to really take to the subject. Others fell asleep in her heavily-incensed and stifling classroom or considered the class to be a joke. Hermione Granger decided to quit the class for good, as Trelawney told her that she had not the Inner Eye, and because she thought Trelawney's predictions were inaccurate, and the few accurate ones are due to mere chance. Not many students liked her because they thought she was mad.

While her lessons were relatively safe, Professor Trelawney was renowned for predicting the death of a student each year. These prophecies never came true, although Lavender Brown's did find out that her pet rabbit had died on the predetermined date Professor Trelawney dictated on her first day of class. Also, she had predicted that Neville Longbottom would break a cup from her china tea set.

Her rather ineffective teaching methods made her a primary target for Hogwarts High Inquisitor's negative evaluations, being bombarded with questions and demands during probation, and eventually, Trelawney was dismissed for inadequate performance. She was reinstated at the end of the year.

Firenze

Firenzeinharrypotter

Firenze

Starting in 1995, Firenze began teaching Divination after Professor Trelawney was viciously fired by High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge. Firenze's lessons took place in Classroom Eleven, on the ground floor, because he is a centaur and could not climb up a ladder that led in to Professor Trelawney's stifling classroom. His classes focused mainly on Astrology and a method of Fire-omens. He continued to teach the subject in 1998.

Firenze had been kicked out of his group in the Forbidden Forest, having been accused of serving humans by Bane. He decided to work as a professor in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as he couldn't set foot in the Forbidden Forest because he would be trampled to death by the Centaur herd.

Required textbooks

Grades

Passing Grades

Fail Grades

Known O.W.L.s

See also

Behind the scenes

  • Interestingly, when Harry and Ron made up predictions in their Divination homework,[9] they happened to predict, exactly, the dangers that awaited Harry in the Triwizard Tournament:
    1. He will be "in danger of burns" (the first task of overcoming a dragon)
    2. He will "lose a treasured possession" (Ron, his best friend, whom he had to recover from the Merpeople)
    3. Then get "stabbed in the back by someone you thought was a friend" (his D.A.D.A. professor)
    4. Finally "come off worse in a fight" (his duel with Lord Voldemort in the Little Hangleton graveyard)
  • Similarly, whilst they are making up predictions, Ron and Harry "foresee" that Harry will lose his bet that Ron will win his fight (which he supposedly came off worse in). This also comes true (more or less) again with respect to the Triwizard tournament as it is later revealed that Ludo Bagman lost his bet that Harry would win the Triwizard tournament outright (which culminated in Harry coming off worse). They also claim they will drown, which nearly happens in the Second Task.
  • Given the above (as well as the nature of Sybill Trelawney's gift) it may be that - with respect to the art of Divination - true talent does not lie in making accurate predictions, but in recognising that they have been made.
  • J. K. Rowling originally devised Divination to be compulsory from the first year.[10]
  • Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle and Pansy Parkinson were never mentioned to have taken the subject in the books, but they can be seen during the Divination scenes in the the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, despite they were not shown taking the subject in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
  • It is possible that Divination only has an O.W.L. exam, as Sybill Trelawney says that passing the exam is not primarily necessary to gain more insights and/or to improve the Inner Eye. Therefore, it might be that, like at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in general, Divination is offered as an extra-curricular class in the sixth and seventh year, including Xylomancy. Hence, the statement of the latter being an 'often overlooked' type of Divination.

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 14 (Cornelius Fudge)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 6 (Talons and Tea Leaves)
  3. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 20 (Lord Voldemort's Request)
  4. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
  5. ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 15 (The Quidditch Final)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 25 (The Beetle at Bay)
  7. ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 12 (The Patronus)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 2 (Curses and Prophecies)
  9. ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 14 (The Unforgivable Curses)
  10. ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Hogwarts School Subjects" at Wizarding World
Divination
Trelawney's first Divination lesson in the trio's third year
Professors: Percival Rackham · Mudiwa Onai · Sybill Trelawney · Firenze
Known Seers: Calchas · Cassandra Vablatsky · Cassandra Trelawney · Gellert Grindelwald · Inigo Imago · Johan Hoffman · Liz Tuttle's mother · Mopsus · Professor Mopsus · Susie Sooth · Tycho Dodonus · Unidentified Canadian Seer · Unidentified female Seer · Unidentified male Seer
Textbooks: The Dream Oracle · Unfogging the Future
Methods: Astrology · Bibliomancy · Capnomancy · Cartomancy · Catoptromancy · Crystal-gazing · Crystal ball · Dream interpretation · Fire-omens · Heptomology · Horoscope · Ichthyomancy · Lithomancy · Myomancy · Ornithomancy · Orrery · Ovomancy · Palmistry · Personal chart · Phyllomancy · Prophecy · Rune stone · Scrying mirror · Tarot cards · Tessomancy · Xylomancy
Divination at Hogwarts: Divination (class) · Divination Classroom · Divination staircase · Sybill Trelawney's office · Classroom Eleven · Xylomancy (class)
Hogwarts subjects
Core classes Astronomy · Charms · Defence Against the Dark Arts · Herbology · History of Magic · Potions · Transfiguration
Hogwartscrest
Elective classes Alchemy · Arithmancy · Care of Magical Creatures · Divination · Muggle Studies · Study of Ancient Runes
Extracurricular classes Apparition · Advanced Arithmancy Studies · Ancient Studies · Art · Flying · Ghoul Studies · Magical Theory · Muggle Art · Muggle Music · Music · Xylomancy · Field Studies
Former classes Beasts · Dark Arts
Examinations
First year exams · Second year exams · Third year exams · Fourth year exams ·
Ordinary Wizarding Level · Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test
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