Who killed J&L

[Steve Vander Ark]

No: HPFGUIDX 17298


> 
> Where do you get the idea that Voldemort was destroyed before James 
> and Lily were killed? 

Because the echo, as you point out that it's called, of the spell 
that nearly destroyed Voldemort DOESN'T come out of the wand. It 
would have presumably been the next one out if Harry had maintained 
the contact and the Priori Incantatem effect. But no echo, no spell. 
That's the way the thing is described as working. As for the things 
Harry hears, remember that he doesn't actually hear anyone die, just 
the voices and the screaming. 

You could even make a case for the fact that he didn't hear his 
father at all, but someone else. After all, when he tells Lupin that 
he hears his father, Lupin gives him a peculiar look. He's never 
actually heard his father's voice at that time. Was his father even 
there? What does Lupin know about that incident that makes him 
suprised at Harry's interpretation of what he hears? Was it someone 
else having taken Polyjuice Potion? Was LUPIN there? Whoa!

Again, I am pretty sure that the JKR is NOT pulling some fancy trick 
here, but that she simply didn't think it all out in the kind of 
infinite detail that we are. But it's fun to analyze and imagine. And 
who knows...maybe I'll be proved right!

Steve Vander Ark
The Harry Potter Lexicon
full of "verifiable facts" and a few wild speculations
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon