[HPforGrownups] Re: OOP: Harry, the Order and the Prophecy

[goingoutsleepwalking]

No: HPFGUIDX 65296

...spoiler...

Dave says:
>So I think they may be guarding not the prophecy but the identity of the
person who made the prophecy.

I (goingoutsleepwalking) say:
That makes *more* sense to me.  But, to be honest, not a whole lot.  Even
if, despite, having no *conscious* memory of the prophecy, the exact words
of the prophecy could be ...er, extracted from Trelawaney, what's the big
deal???  Who cares if Voldemort knows the exact words of the prophecy?  He
knows the first part anyway, and the part he didn't previously know
doesn't make any difference now.  Harry has been marked and the fact that
if could have been Neville has passed.  The only reason I can possibly see
why it could have been worth the lives risked to protect the prophecy is
if, despite what Dumbledore claims, it would seem obvious to Voldemort
that maybe it wasn't Harry, maybe it's just important right now for
everyone to *think* it's Harry... but I don't really even understand what
I saying and I don't think that makes sense.  Basically I'm just saying
that I don't understand why Arthur had to almost die and Sirius *did* die
keeping something a secret that Voldemort basically already knows.  (I
mean, let's face it, we all practically knew already.  I kept waiting for
some major revelation and I was like "That?  That's the 'big secret'??") 
And *why* didn't they just break it at the beginning of the book?? 

Dumbledore had the memory that he could show anyone he needed to know. 
Why leave such a stupid risk just sitting out there when everyone knew
Voldemort wanted it??  I mean there has to be something.  Jo's characters
are just not brainless fools like that.  If it turns out that they are, I
might cry.  I'm just kind of frustrated by her not showing a good reason
before the end of the book for what seems to me to be such an obviously
imbecilic thing to do, so my thoughts are a bit scattered.

goingoutsleepwalking