Neville's importance and the Prophecy

[adamjmarcantel]

No: HPFGUIDX 74297

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kalmeeeh" <kalmeeeh at y...> 
wrote:
> Dumbledore assumes the prophecy means that either Harry or 
Voldemort 
> must kill or be killed.
> 
> The prophecy goes
> 
> "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord 
approaches....Born 
> to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month 
> dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will 
> have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the 
hand 
> of the other for neither can live while the other survives.... The 
> one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the 
> seventh month dies...."
> 
> 
> A rather confusing quote, but my interpretation is that 
the "either" 
> and "neither" are refering to Neville and Harry, and not Harry and 
> Voldemort, as both Harry and Dumbledore assume. It's more than a 
> coincidence that there are two boys that could fit the description 
by 
> the prophecy, and that the most confusing part of the prophecy can 
> have many different meanings.
> 
> Perhaps in the next two books, both Harry and Neville will face a 
> life and death situation, and only one of them will survive the 
> confrontation with Voldemort.
> 
> Perhaps Harry protects Neville from Voldemort and this act kills 
both 
> Voldemort and himself.
> 
> This turn of events would make the surviving part make more sense.

Another thing to consider with regards to the prophecy is the line 
about the Dark Lord marking the "one."  It does not say that the 
Dark Lord HAS marked him, only that he WILL.  No timetable of the 
all important marking is given.  It could be that the prophecy is 
about Neville afterall.  It could still be Neville that recieves the 
mark of equality (how? I have no idea).  Then, if Harry were to 
somehow sacrifice himself in protecting Neville, he may transfer his 
powers to Neville, giving him a power that the "Dark Lord knows 
not."  Neville could defeat Riddle, Harry is still the uber-hero, 
and the prophecy would be complete. What do you guys think?

Adam, who wonders how on earth JKR is going to justify allowing the 
screenwriters to take Neville out of the early movies (i.e. in the 
dark forest with you-know-who, Fluffy's room, etc.) with him now 
playing such a prominent role in the books