The deaths of Dumbledore, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin were some of the most shocking and heartbreaking moments of the Harry Potter franchise. These deaths were not only some of the saddest moments in the books but also left their impact on Harry’s life, in one way or another.
However, it seems that these deaths were foreshadowed heavily, as revealed when Professor Trelawney enters the great hall during Christmas celebrations. The hall is sparsely populated, with only 12 students and professors there. When asked by Dumbledore to join the host at the Great Hall, Trelawney is quick to point out that her joining them would make the total number of people there 13, and that there is “nothing more unlucky”.
The first person to rise from the host of 13 is the first to die, according to Professor Trelawney
Thrice is this claim corroborated in the Harry Potter franchise, that the first to rise from a host of 13 people feasting together is the first to die. First, there is Dumbledore himself. The 11 other people in the Great Hall included Ron Weasley, who was present with his pet rat Scabbers.
It is common knowledge among fans of the series that Scabbers is actually James Potter’s former friend, Peter Pettigrew, in animagus form. This indicates that there were always thirteen people in the hall. And given that Dumbledore rose from his seat to invite Trewalney to join them, he was the first to die in the room.
This is done with Sirius Black and Remus Lupin too. Sirius Black was the first to rise when thirteen members of the Order of the Phoenix had gathered. Black was the first to rise and the first to die. Then again, after Harry is successfully transported outside of Privet Drive, the survivors toast to Moody, who lost his life in the ruse that was cooked up by the Order. Lupin is the first to rise from the table of thirteen and is hence killed off.
The deaths of these figures were important for the narrative of Harry Potter
Dumbledore, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black are all characters that are extremely important to Harry in his formative years at Hogwarts. While Lupin and Black are the closest things Harry has to a family, Dumbledore is the guiding light who assists Harry on his various missions and makes sure that the Boy Who Lived remains out of danger.
The deaths of these figures take away what little protection Harry had from the world at large, and make it so that Harry must step and fight the war on his own terms. Being the Chosen One rests heavier on Harry’s shoulders after the death of these mentors, allowing the character to mature into the war that is being waged against him by Voldemort.
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