[HPforGrownups] The night the Potters died & where are their graves

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 42232


> here's a silly, not very in-depth question, but something I've always
> wondered - if the house in Godric's Hollow was blown to smithereens -
> how did Harry survive *that*? I mean, I can see Lily's sacrifice
> protecting him from AK, but from falling brick? I don't have the books

Well there are known muggle cases where babies survive tornadoes and all
sorts of disasterous things.  Still, it could've been something else too.

> 1) The Potters (well, Lily at least) were not indoors when the AK
> rebounded on Voldemort, or...

Possible.  In the film that cannot be named Lily is shown closing the door,
turning around with Harry, green flash (presumably when James is AK'd) and
next thing you know Harry's in his crib.  Surely she'd have gotten further
than that?  If James (or other unknown individual that told her to run) was
supposed to be holding Voldemort off for her and Harry to get away, why walk
five steps and wait for him?  Yes, I know she is willing to sacrifice
herself to save Harry, but I think if I were in her place and presuming it
was James who told her to take Harry and run I'd have fulfilled my husband's
last request.  Maybe I'm a softy, though.  She could've at least gotten out
of the house.

> 2) There was indeed someone else around that scooped up poor,
> traumatised little Harry and deposited him outside before the house
> blew up.

Yes, I can see that.  Suppose for a moment Sirius (I'll use him for my
purposes at the moment) has come to try and help the Potters.  He finds he
was too late, perhaps he arrives at the very moment that Voldemort tries to
AK Harry and fails.  Could be something of that magnitude could bring the
house down. (no pun intended)  As the house begins to shake around them, he
grabs a screaming baby Harry out of the crib and runs out of the house.
Watches it fall down.  Realizes Voldemort has been defeated.  Has some
urgent business to attend to, but what?  Making sure Voldemort's gone
perhaps?   Anyway, what to do with the baby?  Leaves him in the house.
Decides to come back a little later.  When he does Hagrid is there.  He
takes the baby.  Then Sirius goes after Peter etc.  If not Sirius, go back
and put Lupin in his place.  After all, where WAS Lupin all that time?  Full
moon?

Still, point being it is possible that someone came at the very time
Voldemort tried to AK Harry and was only able to stay long enough to grab
Harry and run out of the house.


Christi writes:

> One suggestion: they were creamated and their ashes scattered, hence
> no gravesite or memorial exists.  Since we have no evidence to the
> contrary, one assumes that wizard burial rites are more or less
> concurrent with Muggle ceremonies, which allows for some variety as
> to disposal of the remains.

What if in fact the house did blow up?  Their bodies could've gone with it.
Presuming they were both in the house at the time of death.  If not, maybe
all wizards are cremated?  Sort of a Jedi thing?  Or too Star Wars perhaps.
:)

Richelle