[HPforGrownups] Adopted!Harry is Really. TTTR

[Lissa B]

No: HPFGUIDX 57739

In response to asandhp's Harry=Voldemort theory

Lissa replied a second time:
Hi again, asandhp.  (If you prefer to be called The Admiring Skeptic, do
let me know! As a clueless newbie, I just don't know these important
things.  Also, if I shouldn't be replying to my own post to extend it,
kind List Elf, please tell me the proper protocol.)

Having read others' replies and concluded that your theory truly does
entail a complete life for Baby Riddle and for Harry Potter, I must
meekly object.  As GulPlum (aka Richard) noted in the thread on Time
Travel, Rowling's universe doesn't appear to allow two opposing
timelines to occur in the one universe.  The results of an act committed
during time travel appear to be unambiguous and absolute.

If she'd meant to hint that events could co-exist in this single
universal timeline--or even that you could actually change the past--she
should have shown that Buckbeak originally died.  She also should not
have shown Harry Potter seeing himself launch his patronus.  *If* two
alternate realities coexisting is possible in the Potterverse, JKR has
been a bit sloppy in not indicating it.

Now for something more psychological and nebulous. Let's assume Harry
*is* Voldemort: then the fully grown adult Voldemort *knows* this.  What
are the emotional ramifications of this knowledge?

I think he would hate his alternate self with a rage and venom that
could scarcely be *contained* by a human body.  Voldemort would *know*
that *he* could have turned out to be this beloved Gryffindor hero that
everyone lauds when, in Voldemort's own estimation, Harry is nothing but
a pathetic, weak, disgusting waste of his own flesh and godlike
potential.  The man would be both insanely jealous and bitterly
ashamed.  His hatred of Harry Potter would be SO personal and SO intense
that, in my opinion, it would take every ounce of restraint in
Voldemort's body for him not to spend days torturing HP with crucio and
red-hot daggers while mocking Harry's life choices until the young boy
broke down and shrieked.

In my opinion, there is no way, given your theory, that Voldemort could
casually dispatch Harry Potter with a public avada kedavra in the
cemetery in GoF.  The Voldemort in your theory is a gloating
god-aspiring maniac. He could not *help* but drag his pitiful alter self
into a private area and confess all his grand plans--and take every
opportunity possible to tell Harry how small and insignificant and
shameful he, Harry, was.  LV's ego would not be satisfied with anything
less than making Harry suffer the knowledge of the terrible truth.  Of
course, you can disagree with me on this. :)

I also think--given that Voldemort believes he's about to kill Harry in
GoF--that he'd smugly make *some* allusion to the fact he was about
transform into a god right before the DE's eyes.  Then again, maybe your
theory holds that there are still a few more steps to be taken before
divinity ensues.  If so, nevermind. :)

In my opinion Voldemort also subtly acknowledges a genetic connection
between Harry and James in the cemetery when he notes that Harry's
father died "straight-backed and proud" and hints that he wants the same
of Harry. If Harry has no genetic tie to James Potter *and* LV knows
Harry wasn't raised by James, there is no reason for LV to expect
Harry's behavior should in any way echo James'.  You could, however,
argue that LV is just being a jerk.  It'd kind of be in character for
him.  (grin)

I still find your theory inexpressibly groovy.  I just sigh at its
loveliness.  (Yeah--even though it conflicts with my own theory.)

If you can find a way to make an HP=LV theory workable *without* Harry
Potter being adopted and *without* Voldemort knowing that Potter is
himself, then I'd be able to consider it.  (Once upon a time before I
found my own hypothesis last summer, I used to wonder on occasion if HP
couldn't be LV.  I never could come up with a canonically acceptable way
to make it happen.)

Respectfully intrigued,
Lissa