Harry and the riddle of Riddle

[alhewison]

No: HPFGUIDX 39448

The recent thread about Voldemort being Harry's grandfather has made 
me wonder about some of the half hints / foreshaowings, red herrings 
or simple narrative that JKR has slotted into the text:

"Whilst Harry was sure he had never heard the name T.M.Riddle before, 
it still seemed to mean something to him, almost as though Riddle was 
a friend he'd had when he was very small, and half-forgotten" p174 
COS (UK paperback).

Could Harry be remembering a friend or relative - from either his 
babyhood, or maybe a realtive of Harry AND the Dursleys. But this 
pasage is surely not insignificant? To keep resemblances consistent, 
the relation should be  on James' side, so maybe Voldemort coould be 
Harry's grandfather, Great-Uncle - or perhaps there is yet anoher 
unexplained significance. I have read a theory that Voldie had a 
sister, because of Dobby's reaction to Harry asking if Voldie had a 
brother:
 "Dobby shook his head, his eyes wider than ever" p 18 COS.
It was argued that the eyes widening were hinting to Harry that he 
close ie a sister not a brother. Whatever the truth on this though, 
it turned out not to be relevant to the COS plotline.

Another excerpt that I still ownder about is when Tom Riddle says 
that he and HArry are:

"Probably the only two Parselmouths to come to Hogwarts since the 
great Slytherin himself"

I've heard of recessive genes, but has it really taken 1,000 years to 
resurface? Perhaps it's because Britain only has adders and grass 
snakes, so that until the advent of zoos, many potential 
parselmouths  would never come across a snake to discover their 
skill. And yet, the way Ron says "it's not a very common gift" p 146 
COS, seems to imply that it is not as rare as once in every 1,000 
years would imply. Hmnn, what does this mean though? Perhaps it's an 
example of fans examining the Potterverse too closely. I however 
wonder if it points to some sort of time-turning between the "demise" 
(if he did die) of Slytherin and Voldemort's birth. Alternatively, 
perhaps this could be explained by Voldie being an ancestor not a 
descendant of Slytherin.

Dumbledore plays back Harry's statement when Harry mentions Riddle 
saying there were "strange likenesses" between Harry and Riddle - he 
doesn''r rule out a relationship here (although he does seem to rule 
out Harry being a descendant of Slytherin by saying Voldie is the 
last remaining one).

Another piece of text that I need to be explained is when Crouch asks 
Harry:-

"You're not his?" "No" said Harry.. "Dumbledore's?" (GOF UK hardback 
p 482)

It was at this pont that I dived into the mad/unexplainable theory 
pool and decided that this could somehow point to Harry "being" 
Voldemort's and *Neville* being Dumbledore's. No, I can't defend 
this, I don't think I even believe it, but it just appeared in my 
mind as a possibility. I backed up the theory by deciding that that 
was why Dumbledore was so bitter about the Longbottom's insanity - 
because they were related. Oh yeah, and Neville had the memory charm 
not to forget about the Cruciatus Curse (which he obviously hasn't) 
but to forget that he is realted to Great Uncle Albus (Albus, 
Aberforth and Algie all brothers?). Can't think of a plausible 
argumetn why Neville shouldn't know he is realted to Dumbledore so 
the theory falls apart here.

I'm not sure why Crouch should be asking Harry if he is "his" as in 
Voldemort's, but as Crouch has rather lost his marbles, his comments 
are ripe for speculation. If for example Harry turned out to 
be "Dumbledore's" who is "his"? Perhaps this whole speech was 
irrelevant though...

Off at yet another tangent, but still on Harry, I have noticed 
relatively  little empassioned debate about Harry himself. Whilst 
arguments rage foor/against Hermione, Ron, Snape etc, Harry seems to 
get comparatively nothing. I can think of Penny and Jenny of 
Ravensclaw willing to defend Harry to the hilt, but can't think 
offhand of many others. Perhaps it's because although we walk in is 
shoes on his journey, it is easier to identify with, or fantasise 
over some of the other characters whose flaws/qualities more closely 
resemble our own(?)

I am not ashamed to admit that Harry is still my favourite character. 
He isn't above reproach, he does lie, fight and mistreat people (eg 
Parvati at the Ball), but this makes him "real". The fact that he 
does seem to have such strong moral fibre despite his traumatic life, 
makes him a hero - but not perfect which afterall would be "boring".

I am fearful for Harry's future, but believe that JKR should cut him 
a break at the end of Book 7, to make up for the traumatic life she 
has given him until then.

Ali

who has rambled alot.