OoP: Spoilers for everything, two important questions

[chappysmom]

No: HPFGUIDX 61582

> 2> WHY are they bothering? the prophecy DOESN'T tell Voldy how to 
kill Harry. > I dont see Voldy getting ANY benefit from hearing the 
prophecy. WHAT AM I > MISSING?
> 


--------No, the prophecy doesn't tell him how to kill Harry, but He 
doesn't know that he NEEDS to kill Harry. He knows (because it was 
overheard) that Harry has the power to vanquish him, but he doesn't 
know that (1) Harry has been granted a power "he knows not" or that 
(2) only he or Harry can kill the other. He knows Harry has the power 
TO vanquish him, but not that they must, absolutely, confront each 
other, that he can never have the life he wants until he gets rid of 
Harry. He can try to build his power with his death-eaters and try 
creating the environment of fear and evil he had 15 years ago--but he 
will fail so long as Harry is alive. He only knows that Harry could 
kill him, not that they are actually Linked. Harry was briefly afraid 
that HE was the secret weapon, and he actually is. The good guys know 
it, but Voldemort doesn't. So far as he knows, Harry's just a lucky 
kid who's going to grow into a threat--he doesn't know that he is his 
number one danger, that he's wasting his time on his old tricks 
because nothing is going to work for him until he's dealt with Harry.

--Deb