Prophecy problems (was Harry the Chosen)

[slgazit]

No: HPFGUIDX 79203

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Kirstini" <kirst_inn at y...> 
wrote:
> I'm with you up to a point, in that I agree that Harry as spiritual 
> heir would be a far more satisfying way to approach the whole 
sordid 
> business, and I certainly don't think that the prophecy proves 
> anything finally.

While I love British literature, I really dislike the obssessive
focus they have on blood lines and noble heritage.
In LOTR, even Frodo has to have some exalted
lineage and of course Aragorn must be of some ancient royal blood,
etc.

So I would hate it if Harry turns out to be Gryffindor's descendant.
I like him much more as being his own man, child of very talented
parents, perhaps, but no lofty parentage involved. Notice that
all those worried about bloodlines in the books are evil. It will
be very out of character for Rawlings to then turn around and
make Harry a noble born too. I hope it does not happen.

> Don't forget, OoP still hasn't resolved the problem of why James 
had 
> to die and Lily didn't. I still think there's *something* about 
those 
> Potters.

I agree. I think there was a good reason why Harry was selected
and not Neville. I don't believe it was random. But we won't find
out until book 7...

> The fact that Trelawny fails to 
> remember her true prophecies as she makes them would suggest to me 
> that the prophets themselves merely act as receivers for small 
pieces 
> of information,

I don't think she remembers, but it may still reside in some
subconscious part of her mind and can be retrieved with the right
kind of potions or spells. Why otherwise would Dumbledore hire
her and keep her at Hogwarts despite being a total incompetent?
Why would he order her to stay at Hogwarts even after she is fired?
Clearly he fears that Voldemort will capture her and extract the
prophecy from her subconscious memory. Now that the record in the
DoM is destroyed, this is probably what Voldemort will attempt
to do (and I expect that he may very well succeed).

> Also, remember that DD controls the version of the prophecy that 
> Harry hears, and all those pauses at least offer the possibility 
that 
> what he shows Harry is edited.

That would make sense except that it would make Dumbledore an
outright liar. He told Harry at the beginning of their conversation
that he would "tell him everything". Since he has always shown
himself an honorable man, I am sure what we have seen is the entire
prophecy.

> And who gave the order for the eavesdropper to be thrown out 
anyway? 
> Did the barman (Aberforth Dumbledore. I'm telling you)say something 
> like "I say! That chap's listening in to the prophecy that woman 
> appears to be making about the coming hero who will vanquish the 
Dark 
> Lord! We'd better get him out of here quick smart!"

No, my guess is that the eavesdropper was kicked out for other
reasons. Maybe it was Mundungus Fletcher who we know is not
permitted there. Later Dumbledore learns about the fact that there
was an eavesdropper from his spy in the Voldemort network (Snape
most likely) and also what exactly he told Voldemort.

> And why would Snape be all the way up in Scotland in 
> the Hog's Head when DD was interviewing a totally unremarkable 
woman 
> with no known gift for prophecy, and no track record of knowlege 
> about Dark Lord vanquishing?

I don't think that Snape was the eavesdropper, rather he was
the spy who reported what the eavesdropper said.

Salit