That damn Prophecy - an alternative take

[Wanda Sherratt]

No: HPFGUIDX 75045

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, B Arrowsmith 
<arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:
> 
> 1. For successful analysis we must accept that the Prophecy is 
complete 
> and accurate. Otherwise, forget it - we're reduced to guesswork.
> 
> 2. Any analysis must fit the existing plot-line as we know it. 
Past as 
> well as present and  hints for the future too. No extra bits of 
wishful 
> thinking to force it to fill in any gaps. Strict canon only.

Unfortunately, I no longer trust Rowling on this.  She isn't always 
adhering to the rules governing a fantasy genre, so I could see her 
pulling a fast one here.  Here's a fanciful interpretation:  "The 
one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches..." who is 
to say that this means that the unknown hero is about to be born?  
Why couldn't it be someone already alive, born in July some time 
ago?  Oh, yes, Rowling would have to fill in more backstory then, 
but it wouldn't be the first time.  What do we know about Lupin?  Or 
Dumbledore - was he born in July? (Except his parents might have 
been a bit old to defy LV three times, but you never know.) Maybe 
it's Krum!  You can do anything if you want to stretch the rules far 
enough.
> 
> 3. It must explain Dumbledores' certainty that Harry is indeed the 
one 
> to  fight Voldemort, without any reservations.

Ah, but Dumbledore makes mistakes, haven't we just learned that?  
And Firenze warns that even centaurs get divination wrong, so why 
shouldn't Dumbledore have misread the prophecy?

Wanda