Refresh my memory: What was this "prophecy" Professor Trelawney spoke of and how did it relate to the plot?

Question

I've read all 6 books, and with the 7th coming out soon, I've been reading the rumor sites. A lot of the speculation mentions the prophecy that Dumbledore overheard, coming from Trelawney. It had something to do with Neville Longbottom didn't it? It's been so long that I've forgotten. Will you refresh my memory. Of course I remember the basics: horcruxes, Dumbledore's death, etc.

Answer 1

The one born 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….

Both Neville and Harry could have been the one that Voldemort chose to attack, but he chose the one who was most like him. Voldemort hates being common or similar to other people, so it makes sense that he chose Harry, who was half-blood like Voldemort.

Since he chose Harry, Neville can no longer be the one in the prophecy. Harry has been marked as Voldemort's equal, not Neville.

Now, not all prophecies come true... Voldemort could have chosen to not attack Harry, and the prophecy simply wouldn't have come true.

But, since Voldemort sets his ways by the prophecy, Harry is forced to set his way also. Voldemort will continue to hunt Harry, even if Harry chooses not to hunt Voldemort. That is why Harry decides to go destroy the horcruxes and kill Voldemort himself, because it's the difference between being dragged into the arena to fight, and standing tall and fighting like a man.

Answer 2

"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 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."

Dumbledore didn't overhear this one, he was present when she gave it. And the prophecy could have been for either Neville or Harry. Both were born late in July (Neville July 30th, Harry July 31st), both their parents defied Voldemort three times. But it was up to Voldemort to choose the choosen one and mark him his equal. Harry's scar is that mark.

Answer 3

This is long, it is copied from JK's site.
To recap: Neville was born on the 30th of July, the day before Harry, so he too was born 'as the seventh month dies'. His parents, who were both famous Aurors, had 'thrice defied' Voldemort, just as Lily and James had. Voldemort was therefore presented with the choice of two baby boys to whom the prophecy might apply. However, he did not entirely realise what the implications of attacking them might be, because he had not heard the entire prophecy. As Dumbledore says:

'He [the eavesdropper] only heard the beginning, the part foretelling the birth of a boy in July to parents who had thrice defied Voldemort. Consequently, he could not warn his master that to attack you would be to risk transferring power to you.'

In effect, the prophecy gave Voldemort the choice of two candidates for his possible nemesis. In choosing which boy to murder, he was also (without realising it) choosing which boy to anoint as the Chosen One – to give him tools no other wizard possessed – the scar and the ability it conferred, a magical window into Voldemort's mind.

So what would have happened if Voldemort had decided that the pure-blood, not the half-blood, was the bigger threat? What would have happened if he had attacked Neville instead? Harry wonders this during the course of 'Half-Blood Prince' and concludes, rightly, that the answer hinges on whether or not one of Neville's parents would have been able, or prepared, to die for their son in the way that Lily died for Harry. If they hadn't, Neville would have been killed outright. Had Frank or Alice thrown themselves in front of Neville, however, the killing curse would have rebounded just as it did in Harry's case, and Neville would have been the one who survived with the lightning scar. What would this have meant? Would a Neville bearing the lightning scar have been as successful at evading Voldemort as Harry has been? Would Neville have had the qualities that have enabled Harry to remain strong and sane throughout all of his many ordeals? Although Dumbledore does not say as much, he does not believe so: he believes Voldemort did indeed choose the boy most likely to be able to topple him, for Harry's survival has not depended wholly or even mainly upon his scar.
So where does this leave Neville, the boy who was so nearly King? Well, it does not give him either hidden powers or a mysterious destiny. He remains a 'normal' wizarding boy, albeit one with a past, in its way, as tragic as Harry's. As you saw in 'Order of the Phoenix,' however, Neville is not without his own latent strengths. It remains to be seen how he will feel if he ever finds out how close he came to being the Chosen One.
Some of you, who have been convinced that the prophecy marked Neville, in some mystical fashion, for a fate intertwined with Harry's, may find this answer rather dull. Yet I was making what I felt was a significant point about Harry and Voldemort, and about prophecies themselves, in showing Neville as the also-ran. If neither boy was 'pre-ordained' before Voldemort's attack to become his possible vanquisher, then the prophecy (like the one the witches make to Macbeth, if anyone has read the play of the same name) becomes the catalyst for a situation that would never have occurred if it had not been made. Harry is propelled into a terrifying position he might never have sought, while Neville remains the tantalising 'might-have-been'. Destiny is a name often given in retrospect to choices that had dramatic consequences.
Of course, none of this should be taken to mean that Neville does not have a significant part to play in the last two novels, or the fight against Voldemort. As for the prophecy itself, it remains ambiguous, not only to readers, but to my characters. Prophecies (think of Nostradamus!) are usually open to many different interpretations. That is both their strength and their weakness.

Answer 4

"The one born 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…."

It has to do with a boy that was to be born in late July, which ended-up being Harry's birth-date..as the seven month dies. As to why Voldemort chose Harry,, this is because Harry is also half-blood just like Voldermort.

Neville happens to be the other boy who was born around the prophesied date. But he is a pure Blood.

So you see, the prophecy did not mention names, it was Voldermort, who, after choosing Harry, made him part of it.

Answer 5

THE PROPHECY-->
The one born 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….

It relates to the plot because in the end Either Harry Or Voldemort will have to kill the other.
Yes it could have had something to do with Neville Longbottom .. because he and harry were both born "as the 7th month dies"
But voldemort chose Harry to pick as his equal becuase "he saw himself in Harry"
So in the end after Harry destroys the Horcruxes .. either Harry or Voldemort will kill the other

Hope i've helped!
Emily

Answer 6

read the last few chapters of order of the phoenix, then youll understand