Why Potter house was destroyed 15 years ago

[Kristen]

No: HPFGUIDX 74709

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Susan Smith" 
<atroposgryffin at y...> wrote:
> As previously posted, I have been converted to the theory that 
James 
> Potter and Lupin had some sort of switching spell thing happening 
the 
> night the Potter's died.  The more I gave it some thought, it has 
> helped explain some things never answered from that fateful evening.
> 
> What if, not intentionally, but just by chance, Potter and Lupin 
were 
> practicing Switching Spells.  Just as they had helped each other 
> learn to be Animagi, perhaps they regularly helped each other with 
> NEWT level magic and beyond.  For some reason they chose to work on 
> Switching spells that evening and switched.
> 
> Before anything could be done about it, Peter and Voldemort were 
upon 
> them and all heck broke loose.  Lupin (as James) was killed and 
James 
> (as Lupin) was incapacitated, restrained, stunned, whatever.  Lily 
> was killed, then AK rebounded from Harry and Voldemort was 
> disembodied.
> 
> At this point Pettigrew transformed and ran off.  The house was 
still 
> in order (because AK is precise and does no collateral damage).  
> Lupin comes to and finds baby Harry.  Not knowing what has become 
of 
> V. and Peter he immediately owls Dumbledore (or other order member)
> and then waits for assistance.  But, oh no!  The full moon shines 
> through the windows, and he starts to transform.  Since he is James 
> he does not know how to handle it, he cannot control himself.  He 
> drops Harry and becomes wild/violent.  He literally destroys the 
> houseduring his transformation, then runs off knowing he may harm 
> Harry.
> 
> Knowing he would be a threat to baby Harry, he waited to return 
until 
> daylight, along with Dumbledore, Hagrid, etc.  Not knowing what 
> exactly has happened to V. and knowing that angry death eaters may 
be 
> looking for him, it is decided that he must go into hiding.  Harry 
> because of his mother's protection and "old magic" must go to "her" 
> family.  
> 
> This could explain the destroyed house and also the delay of 
several 
> hours before getting Harry to the Dursleys.
> 
> Just my thoughts-those of you who regularly ridicule and or hate 
> the "Switch" theory-please be kind and gentle while you crush me!
> 
> Atropos Gryffin


Good heavens! No! I, for one, never ridicule or hate theories (I am 
however, thoroughly frustrated by some of them, though). 

Very interesting!

Frankly, I'm new to the "canon" approach and haven't done as much 
homework as most on this board, however, of all of the theories that 
are tossed around in here, this one seems quite plausible. I've 
always had a sneaky suspicion that one or both of Harry's parents 
weren't really dead. Your scenario is one that makes this entirely 
possible.

The scene in the graveyard(Book 4) where Harry's parents come out of 
LV's wand was either mistakenly written or another clue left by JKR. 
Harry's mother came out of the wand before his father, when the order 
was to have been most recent to last killed. Exactly how this fits in 
I can't say, but if it wasn't a mistake by JKR, I believe it does fit 
in with your theory, somehow.

I'm not thoroughly versed in Switching Spells, can they be reversed 
when the other person is dead? I can see the value in not switching 
while LV is around, but if he's defeated (and Harry's still alive, 
which I firmly believe will happen), could the spell be reversed by 
someone else...say...Dumbledore???

Thanks for posing such an interesting thought.

madeyesgal