hearing voices

[Jonathan Pessin]

No: HPFGUIDX 53135

       There's been a lot of speculation lately about the identity of the people that Harry hears when he hears his parents' death.  I've read speculations ranging from Pettigrew with Voldemort, Snape with Voldemort, Snape with Lily, Sirius with Lily, etc, etc, etc.  There is something I think must be considered, however, before one makes such an assumption.

       Harry doesn't recognize the voices he hears.  In my opinion, this rules out Snape, Lupin, and Dumbledore AT LEAST from being at the scene..  I don't have the book itself with me, alas, but IIRC, the quotes goes something like "Harry heard a male voice saying "Lily, run, I'll hold him off,"" or "Harry heard a male voice saying "stand aside, you silly girl."" (sorry about the innacuracy.  I need to find that book!)  The quotes don't say he heard anybody he knows, and IMNSHO, he'd probably recognize any of these people's voices at once.  

       It isn't quite as sure, but I feel that this also rules out Sirius and Pettigrew from being at the scene as well.  Later in the story he hears both characters' voices quite clearly, in an event which probably burns itself indelibly into his memory, and he doesn't recognize either of their voices.  There's no, "Harry was shocked; this was one of the voices he heard whenever Dementors were near him!" realization when Harry meets either of these characters.  

       Besides these points, if I remember right, the "stand aside" voice is described as high and cold, which makes me 99.735% certain that it's Voldemort saying this.  If anybody who's got PoA handy could check this out, I'd be grateful, but I'd bet that this scene occured as Harry percieves it.

Hobbit-guy, showing some of that skepticism he sang about last time