[HPforGrownups] Re: TBAY: Stoned Harry

[Amanda]

No: HPFGUIDX 38693

Heidi Rugg said

> I've been reading the Stoned!Harry theory with great interest, but am left
pondering a few questions...

I have been only skimming, to my chagrin, as time will not allow this thread
the attention it deserves. So apologies, if my question below is either
irrelevant or well covered already. I also know almost nothing about TBAY
and so have no idea why this thread falls therein, save that it lets the
creative writers cavort on the beach. Sparing you all the sight of me in a
bathing suit, I press on.

> 1.  If Harry is truly immortal, why would Dumbledore have to have set
protective "old magic" over him so that when he is in the care of his
relatives, he cannot be harmed?

As I understand it, y'all's theory holds that Harry is a "living stone,"
shored up with many interesting bits of armament. However, even if he is,
why should that make him immortal? The stone itself is not immortal;
Flamel's has been destroyed, so it can be. The stone is rather a vital
component to make that which *confers* immortality. The question would seem
to me to be: what will Harry (in his role as "stone") act upon to make
immortal? What will his existence protect or shield or extend?

> 2.  Why was Dumbledore concerned about Harry dying ("almost lost you") at
the end of PS/SS with Quirrel/Voldemort?

Um, I may be way off base on this one, but--because he cares about his
students and it's a real drag when they go off and get themselves killed?
Not to mention the tedium of dealing with school governors and all?

> I'm not entirely convinced about this theory, but am intrigued by all of
the symbolism and literary references.  It's very fascinating...so, by all
means, don't stop!

Me, too--this is intriguing. I will point out, though, that everything on
the planet that medieval minds came into contact with had symbolism
attached. The physical world was a huge lesson through which man wandered,
and everything in it served as an illustration. So there may be a certain
amount of canon cites which are actually completely accidental (like the yew
in the graveyard thing, hard to find a graveyard without them, and I bet JKR
make Voldemort's wand of yew because of that association and no other).

Especially with names, a number of fascinating and solid-seeming links and
origins and associations have been found, of which JKR was apparently
unaware. I think it is part of her genius that she "plugs into" the
collective unconscious and cultural imagery, and can reach out and pluck a
perfect name, *without* being aware of why it is so perfect. I suspect some
of the Stoned!Harry theory is this, her ability to pull together imagery so
well by "feel."

However, there's so many little snippets of support for it, I find it
insanely alluring and am enjoying the bits of the thread I can read. What a
bummer if none of this ever occurred to her and the ending is actually
rather pedestrian.

--Amanda