Help me understand the importance of the prophecy, please

[davewitley]

No: HPFGUIDX 82135

Dumbledad wrote:
 
> I've just re-read the prophecy chapter and I'm still hopelessly 
> confused. Help!
> 
> My main problem is that it appears really lame. It doesn't tell 
> anybody much that they didn't already know.
> 
> Here it is again:
> 
> 6) either must die at the hand of the other for 
> 7) neither can live while the other survives . . . 
> 

> Thirdly Harry. 
> Now, he must have spotted the fact 
> that Voldemort is repeatedly trying to kill him, it's happened 4 
> times before Book 5, so (6) and (7) don't tell him much.

But... but... 6 and 7 change everything, because Harry now believes 
that either Voldemort must take over the world or he, Harry, must be 
a murderer.  What an awful choice!  No wonder Dumbledore tried to 
keep it from him.  (I don't have the book with me, but I'm pretty 
sure there's something in Dumbledore's words to Harry that show hw 
is aware of this consideration.)

The only logical way out consistent with a clear conscience for 
Harry, it seems, is for *both* Harry and Voldemort to die.

However, I rather think that the main plot twist of Book 7 will be 
the mechanism by which Harry survives with his integrity intact, 
Voldemort is defeated (killed?  Who knows?  East Cheam awaits with 
baited breath), and the prophecy is fulfilled to the letter.

David, who thinks Dumbledad may now have christened a whole raft 
of 'East Cheam' theories: Evil Antagonist Survives Trials, Comes 
Home Eventually And Mellows - take it away, TBAY!