Order of Dismissal

Sybill Trelawney: "No! NO! This cannot be happening... it cannot... I refuse to accept it!"

Dolores Umbridge: "You didn't realise this was coming? Incapable though you are of predicting even tomorrow's weather, you must surely have realised that your pitiful performance during my inspections, and lack of any improvement, would make it inevitable that you would be sacked?"

Sybill Trelawney: "You c - can't! You c - can't sack me! I've b - been here sixteen years! H - Hogwarts is - my h - home!"

Dolores Umbridge: "It was your home, until an hour ago, when the Minister of Magic countersigned your Order of Dismissal. Now kindly remove yourself from this Hall. You are embarrassing us."

— Dolores Umbridge sacking Sybill Trelawney

Dolores Umbridge sacking Sybill Trelawney, holding an Order of Dismissal

An Order of Dismissal was an official document instructing the recipient to vacate the post of Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with immediate effect. It required countersigning from the Minister for Magic.

History

On 8 March 1996, Hogwarts High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge and Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge signed Sybill Trelawney's Order of Dismissal, due to her inadequate performance. However, it did not give either of them permission to banish Trelawney from the school grounds, as that authority remained with the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, who chose to allow Trelawney to remain. Later that year, when Umbridge was dismissed from Hogwarts herself, Sybill's dismissal order was annulled, and she was reinstated as the school's Divination teacher by Dumbledore.

Behind the Scenes

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Trelawney's Order of Dismissal was served to her much earlier, before the Christmas holidays. The scene was also far less violent, as Argus Filch was carrying all of Trelawney's luggage towards her while she was standing in the courtyard, weeping silently as Umbridge came forward with the Order. The film showed no signs that Trelawney was drunk at all.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (First appearance)