The Deaths of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

[Susan Smith]

No: HPFGUIDX 70359

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Kelly Grosskreutz" 
<ivanova at i...> wrote:
<SNIP>  
> THE DEATHS OF HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S/SORCERER'S STONE
> <SNIP> Some people are backing a theory that has even seen its time 
in print in Unofficial Harry Potter guides, and that theory is that 
James and Remus Lupin switched places at the last minute. <A.G.> most 
posts and guide do not suggest last minute-they suggest it was a 
planned Switching Spell>

>Meaning that the man who died that fateful night was Remus Lupin, 
and James Potter is the one whom everyone is now calling Lupin.
> Here are some arguments to debunk this theory. First, we can be 
sure they weren't using Polyjuice Potion. <SNIP> 

<A.G.>  Most posts and guide and interviews alluding to this suggest 
a Switching Spell-it is clear to most advocates of this theory that 
it could NOT be Polyjuice Potion

<SNIP> Which brings me to my second reason why James and Lupin didn't 
switch. Lupin is a werewolf. He transforms into a wolf at the full 
moon. Somehow, I don't see James and Lupin so intent on switching 
identities...

<A.G.>  If you suspect that death is at your door and are hiding out 
you might try anything even living as a werewolf if it meant you 
would live.  Too, if you were living a cursed life as a werewolf-you 
might consider filling in for your friend while he continues to try 
to locate and/or fight the Lord Voldemort (James could have been 
auror and needed the guise of Lupin to continue investigating 
Voldemort).  The risk you chose to take was dangerous yet your choice-
and true you might sacrafice your life-but your life could be 
construed as not the best.

The final reason I have for why this did not happen is shown us at 
the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Voldemort and Harry 
duel and cast spells at the exact same moment. Their wands join...  
Two of the people that emerge from Voldemort's wand are James and 
Lily. Yes, the book had them come out of the wand in reverse
> order, but it was still James who emerged...If it had been Lupin 
Voldemort had killed, even a Lupin transfigured to look like James, 
it would still have been Lupin who emerged.

<A.G.>  Many people have taken Switching Spells to mean that insides 
are switched, but the "shell" body remains.  So, Sirius in James 
shell would have come out of V.'s wand as James, NOT Lupin and that's 
all there is to it.

Just wanted to point these out.  Liked your post though-have been 
thinking along similar lines.  Who is really dead?, lost?, soulless?, 
in limbo?, etc.

A.G.