What makes Harry Special? (was A Gleam in the Darkness)

[sayse22]

No: HPFGUIDX 31344

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "jspotila" <jspotila at y...> wrote:
> > As I was reading David's thoughts, a new theory occurred to me.  
What 
> if it is Harry himself, and not his abilities, which is the true 
> threat to Voldemort?  Now, wait for it . . . I'll explain.  
> 
> We've been assuming that Harry is special because he has been 
> predicted to overthrow Voldemort, and that he will do so in some 
> magical way related to his actions or aptitude.  In other words, he 
> will be a better wizard or a stronger Dark wizard or will choose to 
> sacrifice himself for the magic world, etc. etc.  But what if 
Harry's 
> specialness comes from his physical self, and not anything that he 
> will do?  Perhaps that specialness could come from the joining of 
the 
> Potter line with the Evans line, producing a new heir of Griffyndor 
> as some have speculated.  Or maybe there is something else special 
> about the Potter/Evans genes that we don't know yet.  
> 
> But if this is the case, that it is Harry's physical/biological 
> existence/qualities that are the true threat to Voldemort, then 
> Voldemort has essentially shot himself in the foot by incorporating 
> Harry's blood into his resurrected body.  Therefore, the gleam in 
> Dumbledore's eye comes from the realization that the very outcome 
> Voldemort seeks to avoid (his destruction by Harry) he has now 
> ensured will come to pass.  And perhaps the battle will be to keep 
> the magic world together long enough for the biological effects to 
> occur.  I'm thinking something along the lines of a magical cancer, 
> or blood disease, that will take awhile to grow to the point of 
> threatening Voldemort.
> 
This makes a lot of sense, except that one of the major themes of the 
novels is that a person's greatness is defined by their choices and 
not their characteristics.  It seems then that biology would not play 
a role in anything major since JKR likes to emphasise free will so 
much.  I know she's the queen of red herrings, but this just doesn't 
seem like one to me.

Sandi