Propehcy correct/Neville never could be the one -Correction

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 86315

Diana:
> To clarify my point I wanted to correct myself.  I actually got the 
> wrong word - I wanted self-fulfilling, not paradox.  Typing faster 
> than I was thinking on that one.  Sheesh!  
> 
> The prophecy had to have been overheard and leaked to Voldemort so 
> that Voldemort would attack Harry resulting in Voldemort marking 
> Harry as his equal.  The attack also gave Harry the gift of 
> parseltongue and probably other powers we've yet to see clearly 
> detailed by JKR.  In addition, the prophecy also had to be heard by 
> Dumbledore (or at the very least known by Dumbledore) so that 
> Dumbledore could put measures into effect that would protect Harry 
> while he was still so young from Voldemort.      
> So, the prophecy exists in order to cause action and produce results 
> that, in turn, cause the prophecy to become true.  So, because those 
> who heard the prophecy believed it to be true, they act on the info 
> contained within and MADE it come true.    


But the prophecy is also sufficiently ambiguous that it can be
interpreted (and fulfilled) in several different ways--especially the
"either/other" "survives/lives" portion. It's possible that if
Voldemort had heard the whole prophecy, he would still have tried to
destroy Harry, not understanding the significance of "mark him as his
equal" until after the fact.

Events may be shaped by the prophecy so that it's self-fulfilling in
that regard, but they can't be predetermined or Dumbledore (and JKR)
wouldn't place so much emphasis on choice. Essentially the conflict is
predetermined, set in motion partly by the prophecy and partly by
Voldemort's response to it, but the outcome isn't predetermined. If it
were, Harry would be nothing more than a puppet of fate. Clearly he
isn't. He's a free agent in the sense that he must make choices, but
they must be the right choices if he's to live and Voldemort is to die.

Carol