Prophecy

From Harry Potter Wiki

A prophecy is a prediction made by a Seer. The only information we have about the process of making a prophecy is from Sybill Trelawney. When she is telling a prophecy, she goes into a trance like state, and speaks in a strange voice. Trelawney cannot remember making prophecies. It is unclear if this is how all Seers make prophecies or if this effect is localized to Trelawney

The term "prophecy" can also refer to the small marble like object that the Ministry of Magic uses to keep a record of the prophecy in the Hall of Prophecies. Once damaged, they cannot be repaired.

Only two known prophecies have been made within the time span of the books. Both were made by Sybill Trelawney, one to Harry Potter in 1994, foretelling Peter Pettigrew's escape to his master and the subsequent return of Lord Voldemort, the other prophecy was told to Albus Dumbledore in 1980, foretelling the birth of a boy who would be capable (though not assured) of defeating Lord Voldemort, that the Dark Lord himself will "mark him as his equal", and that either the boy or Voldemort will ultimately kill the other. This boy was Harry Potter. He was completely unaware of the prophecy until Dumbledore told him about it after the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.

Harry had a vision planted in his mind of Sirius being tortured by Voldemort to get the prophecy. This drove Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and Luna to come with Harry to the Ministry of Magic. They used Harry's dream to guid them to the Hall of Prophecies. This is when Ron found the Prophecy with Harry's name on it. It read:

                   S.P.T to A.P.W.B.D
                         Dark Lord
                    and (?)Harry Potter

After being chased again the Department of Mysteries for the Prophecy by the Death Eaters, the Prophecy eventually smashed when Neville accidentally kicked it.

[edit] Behind the scenes

• In the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film), you hear an echo of the prophecy told by Sybill Trelawney while Harry is holding it.
• Also in the film; instead of the Prophecy breaking when Harry's holding it, Lucius Malfoy breaks it by dropping and smashing it.