[HPforGrownups] A far-fetched analysis of the Prophecy

[lissbell at colfax.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 70117


Random wrote (about the "ancestor" mistake in CoS):

> It's "still" printed this way because _later_ editions were corrected 
> back to say "ancestor" again. Only the first-edition US paperback, If i 
> remember correctly (without 'Year 2') had "Descendant".


Lissa replied:
Thanks for clearing this up for me.  Most curious.  If Rowling really 
did insert that "error" willfully, I wonder why Harry didn't notice it. 
  I'll have to think about this.  I can't say I'd be shocked if 
long-range time travel played a part in the series.

Random wrote:
> I don't like thinking AD 
> knows *everything*. Or, perhaps, he only _thinks_ he knows.


Lissa replied:
I wish I could believe Dumbledore's knowledge is fallible--I'd have a 
much easier time supporting my theory if not for his maddeningly 
deceitful statements to Harry.  Unfortunately I believe Dumbledore is 
Ron Weasley, so I think he knows pretty much all there is to know 
because he has already lived the series' timeline once.  I don't want to 
put time into defending another far-fetched theory of mine on HP4G, so 
I'm not even going to try.  If you want the little text file I have of 
evidence for this contention, I'd be happy to email it to you.

Random wrote:
> Dumbledore may just be struggling to force a complete 
> interpretation which could be, though complete, incorrect...

 > (snipped some stuff)... I don't remember the text of the prophecy

> saying anything about "marking as equal", just that it was the MoM's 
> reason for striking NL from the prophecy's file.


Lissa replied:
Yes, indeed, Dumbledore could be wrong.

There actually is a bit in the Prophecy about marking: "and the Dark 
Lord will mark him as his equal" (OOP US hardback, p 841).  This is why 
AD says he's afraid there's no doubt that it is Harry that Sibyll 
Trelawney is referring to in the prophecy. (p 842)

Random wrote:
> Does the prophecy _say_ Voldie makes any choice, or that he has the 
> ability to affect who it applies to at all? Or is that just AD's 
> addition?


Lissa replied:
It's Dumbledore's addition.  The prophecy makes no mention of the Dark 
Lord choosing from among potential vanquishers.  Random, if you'd like 
me to email you the full text of the prophecy, let me know.  I'd be 
happy to type it up and send it right off. :)


Thanks again for your thoughts and comments.  I really do appreciate them.


Cheers,
Lissa B