[HPforGrownups] Re: Who's whose heir or Lily was here / Re: Why the Potter

[Kelly Grosskreutz]

No: HPFGUIDX 58560

Johannes Lupin wrote:

> Now, we are told many times that Harry has "his mother's eyes."
> JKR puts much emphasis on eyes in her books, especially to
> those with great power (Volde, AD, Dobby).  They likely are the
> seat of some measure of magical power.  I believe that JKR has
> made this so obvious, because we have heard it so many times,
> so it is likely to be true and not a red herring -- Lily performed a
> switching spell and gave Harry her eyes.  The size of your eyes
> doesn't change much after a year of age, so there wouldn't be
> any size issues.  This likely gives Harry a measure of magic that
> is beyond his years, and why he has recollection of that night
> beyond what a typical one year old would have.  I choose to
> believe this although I don't believe that the statements that
> Harry looks just like James means that through some complicated
> machination, the infant body of James was switched with the
> infant body of Harry, as I can not devine to what end that would
> be helpful (unless it was to sacrifice Harry so that James could
> live.)  So, Lilly's eyes are important, because Harry really does
> have them.

Let me add some thoughts to this, mainly on Harry's memory of his parents'
death.  Harry is one year old at this time.  Fact.  I remember hearing at
least once, though, that somewhere in our minds is a memory of everything
that has ever happened to us, every experience, event, smell, touch,
everything.  It's just we usually do not have access to all of it because it
is not important for us to remember every single thing, so we forget it.
Let's also not forget that this night was a very traumatic night for him.

This is how I picture it.  Harry is still awake, whether he is sitting in
his crib or whatever.  He is doing his own thing when he hears his father
shout, "Lily, take Harry and go!"  Whatever line it was James said there;
it's late and I'm too lazy to grab my book.  Harry is alerted to this
because his name was used and because he most likely detected fear and
tension in a beloved voice.  Directly following this, his mother picks him
up and carries him to, if we can trust the movie, his bedroom.  I'd also
like to point out that, in my experience, little kids seem to be quite
perceptive of their parents' emotions.  He is being held by his mother.  He
can feel the fear.  Maybe she is even shaking.  This is on top of whatever
noises Voldemort and James are making in their brief duel in a different
part of the house.  Harry hears the outcome of the duel, although I'm sure
he doesn't understand what happened.  His mother does understand it, though,
and reacts in some way.  Harry knows it's not good and that his mother is
greatly distressed about something.  He is then placed in his crib and his
mother turns from him to deal with the person who has just come in his room
that Harry knows is not his Daddy.  The scene that unfolds is etched
permanently, deeply, and vividly into his young, impressionable memory, most
likely because he is so afraid.  Let's not forget that he actually sees his
Mummy fall down and not move or speak again, not even when the stranger
comes his way threateningly.  I break off here because we don't know for
sure how this next scene truly transpired, and I'm not going to speculate
here.  Anyway, the point is, he was terrified (we know it's his worst memory
because the Dementors keep dragging it out of him), and terror only serves
to heighten an experience.  We remember events much better if there is an
emotional significance attached to it, and this one is very emotionally
charged.  So, in my mind, this memory has nothing to do with anything he may
or may not have received from Lily through her sacrifice, from Voldemort
with his transference of powers, or from anyone else.

Kelly Grosskreutz
http://www.idcnet.com/~ivanova