Let's pick at that prophecy a little more, shall we?

[Wanda Sherratt]

No: HPFGUIDX 77580

I'm interested in the line, "and the Dark Lord will mark him as his 
equal..."  First of all, the word "mark" could have two meanings: 

1. "to put a mark on something" - I assumed this was a reference to 
Harry's scar, the mark he received from Voldemort when V. tried to 
kill him.  But then I realized that there is a second meaning for 
the word:

2. "to notice or observe...to consider" - in this case, there 
wouldn't necessarily be anything physical going on at all.  
Voldemort could just have *identified* Harry as the one he was 
looking for.  It doesn't necessarily mean that he *made* Harry into 
his match.  It's a piddly distinction, but it could turn out to be 
worth something.  In this case, Dumbledore could be wrong, as was 
the person who relabelled the prophecy in the MoM.  Voldemort might 
have "marked" the wrong person, and the transfer of powers will not 
be decisive in defeating him.

Next point, in what way is Harry Voldemort's "equal"?  He has 
nowhere near as much power; even though he's outwitted him 4 times, 
he himself says that it had as much to do with luck and help as 
anything.  My dictionary says that one can be an equal in "rank or 
standing", in "power or achievement, or in any specified quality," 
and "in age; a contemporary".  Which of these would match Harry and 
Voldemort?  I'd say it could be #1 - Harry is as *important* as 
Voldemort, although in this book he is at the lowest point of his 
influence and importance in the WW.  It could be #2, though not in 
an obvious way; it may be because of some innate quality, not sheer 
wizarding ability or knowledge, and perhaps Voldemort is drawn to 
this inner power that Harry has, and recognizes the threat.   

Wanda