Fatal Child Theory

[ronale7]

No: HPFGUIDX 38784

I had barely finished the first chapter of Sorcerer's Stone when I 
began to wonder if Harry was a "fatal child."   A fatal child is the 
protagonist of a particular kind of myth, legend, or folk tale.  In 
such a story a powerful person is warned his downfall will follow 
because of a child's birth--typically a son's or grandson's.  Despite 
attempts to get rid of the child, it returns to fulfill the prophecy.

Such a tale occurs in many cultures, world wide.  For example, the 
Hindus have Krishna, the Greeks Perseus and Oedipus, the Irish 
Deirdre.  Like other fatal children Harry survives an attempt on his 
life.  

Strengthening my theory is that Harry was born on July 31--August Eve 
(see chapter 8 of Sorecerer's Stone).  This is the date on which the 
Celtic people held a festival in honor of their chief god, Lugh.  
Lugh was also a fatal child--he killed his grandfather.

Even more support of the theory is found in Chamber of Secrets.  In 
chapter 17 Voldemort notes that he and Harry are both parselmouths 
and even look something alike.  If Voldemort is Harry's paternal 
grandfather, then a genetic inheritance would explain this.

Nor is the theory disproved by Dumbledore saying (chapter 18, Chamber 
of Secrets) that Voldemort is the last remaining descendant of 
Slytherin.  Yes, if Harry is Voldemort's grandson, then Harry, not 
Voldemort, would be the last.  But it is also possible that neither 
Dumbledore, nor Voldemort, nor James Potter himself knew of the 
kinship.  They may have known only the prophecy.

Indirect support of the theory appears in Goblet of Fire.  In chapter 
1 we learn that Tom Riddle (Voldemort) had killed both his father and 
grandfather.  And in chapter 35 we learn that Bartemius Crouch killed 
his own father.  That's two parricides in one book--hard to ignore.
This could be foreshadowing.

It may be my theory is completely wrong, that the author will refute 
it in the very next book.  Nonetheless I have entertained it happily. 
I will continue to do so till there's conclusive proof I'm mistaken.


"ronale7"