Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy (1980)

## Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy

"*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....*"
— Sybill Trelawney's prophecy made to Albus Dumbledore
**Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy**, also known as the **Lost Prophecy** or simply **The Prophecy**, refers to the prophecy made by Sybill Trelawney to Albus Dumbledore at the Hog's Head Pub early in 1980. It referred to a boy who would be born at the end of July in 1980, who had the power to defeat Lord Voldemort (which Voldemort took to mean Harry Potter). It is referenced at the end of the Second Wizarding War, as public knowledge and named "The Big One", in respect of the prophecy and the sequenced events from it.

## History

### Creation

The prophecy in question made to Albus Dumbledore by Sybill Trelawney had foretold the coming of a boy who would have the power to vanquish Lord Voldemort. The prophecy was made while Trelawney was having an interview with Dumbledore for the post of Divination teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Dumbledore, who was disappointed at the performance she gave during the interview, was about to leave when she went into a trance and made the prophecy. During the prophecy, Trelawney specified that the requirements for the boy of the prophecy who was capable of (but not necessarily would be) defeating the Dark Lord.

They were the following: it was a boy, he is born in the closing days of July of 1980 (the year that the prophecy was made), his parents had defied Voldemort three times and lived to tell about it, he would have a power that Voldemort was unable or unwilling to comprehend, and if more than one person was born that met the requirements, Voldemort himself would choose to whom it would ultimately refer.

Severus Snape, who at the time was working for Voldemort, was caught eavesdropping on Trelawney and Dumbledore by the owner of the Hog's Head and was subsequently thrown out of the pub. Snape then returned to Voldemort to tell him what he had heard.

### Voldemort's Reaction

As Snape was apprehended by Aberforth Dumbledore before the full prophecy could be made, only part of the prophecy was reported to Voldemort. Voldemort learned that there were two boys that met the requirements of the prophecy: Aside from Harry Potter, the other was Neville Longbottom, who was born on 30 July, 1980, to a pair of Aurors who, like James and Lily Potter, had directly defied Voldemort on three separate occasions.

However, Voldemort chose Harry as his target, who was, like himself, a half-blood, rather than the pure-blooded boy named Neville. Voldemort chose Harry as he believed Harry was the most danger to him and he saw himself in Harry before even seeing him. He marked him with a lightning-bolt scar and did not kill him, but gave Harry powers, and a future, which would enable Harry to escape Voldemort four times, something neither Harry's parents nor Neville's parents ever achieved.

Shocked by Voldemort's decision, Snape hastened to Dumbledore and explained that Voldemort had come to the conclusion that the Potters' child was his would-be vanquisher and had vowed to murder him. Snape also confessed his longtime love for Harry's mother, Lily Evans. He offered Dumbledore his loyalty in exchange for her protection. Snape while revealing his love for Lily expressed no concern for her husband and infant son, as he has hated James since their time at Hogwarts. He even pleaded with Voldemort to spare Lily and the Dark Lord agreed, not knowing or understanding Snape's motives. Snape was now loyal to Dumbledore, and he became a double agent who feigned loyalty to Voldemort during the Second Wizarding War.

#### Attack at Godric's Hollow (1981)

After months of searching Voldemort finally discovered where James and Lily Potter were hiding and that they were using the Fidelius Charm to conceal themselves. Within a week of being named Secret Keeper, Peter Pettigrew betrayed the Potters and Voldemort was able to enter their Godric's Hollow home. While there, he belived he murdered James and Lily, trying to protect their infant son. In the process of trying to murder Harry, Voldemort's Killing Curse backfired on him and destroyed his body. This caused Voldemort's already mangled soul to become even more unstable, thus he left a fragment behind.

Harry was protected from Voldemort's killing curse because Lily had lovingly sacrificed herself to save Harry. This imbued him with a charm that prevented Voldemort from harming him.